Xbox Boss Weighs In On The Future Of StarCraft
Blizzard's "Starcraft" is an RTS series that's stood the test of time, with "Starcraft 2" holding a special place in many gamers' hearts. The tactical combat and incredible skill ceiling of "Starcraft 2" make it one of the most frustrating but rewarding games out there. As a result, "Starcraft 2" remains a staple in the esports scene over a decade later. And after the game went free-to-play in 2017, thousands of new gamers dove into "Starcraft" for the first time, reigniting the series' popularity.
But to the dismay of many "Starcraft" fans, in 2020, Blizzard decided to cease the development of any new content for Starcraft 2. However, Blizzard ensured gamers that "Starcraft 2" would continue to receive balance patches when needed. So naturally, fans have been clamoring to get ahold of new "Starcraft" content ever since, but Blizzard showed no signs of working on a "Starcraft 3." Although recently, Microsoft's Phil Spencer hinted at a "Starcraft" series revival.
Starcraft may be revived under Microsoft
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the "Age of Empires" series, Microsoft Games CEO Phil Spencer sat down with Wired to discuss the longevity of the series and the RTS genre as a whole. During the interview, Spencer was asked about the future of the "Starcraft" series. Although Spencer noted that he couldn't make any decisions on what games Blizzard currently develops, he stressed the importance of "Starcraft" on the gaming landscape. In addition, Spencer mentioned how iconic Blizzard's other RTS series, "Warcraft," is.
However, Spencer explained that he couldn't get on the ground floor and work with the teams, so there are no plans to revive the series just yet. One of the reasons Spencer might not be able to get in there and make things happen currently is that the Activision Blizzard Microsoft acquisition has yet to be approved by regulators. That being said, Spencer stated, "I'm excited about getting to sit down with the teams at Activision and Blizzard and King to talk about back catalog and opportunities that we might have." And "the thought of being able to think about what could happen with those franchises is pretty exciting to me."
This isn't the first time Spencer has expressed interest in reviving some old IPs Microsoft may soon get its hands on. Previously, Spencer mentioned an interest in reviving classic games such as "King's Quest" and Activision's "Guitar Hero" (via Washington Post). But of course, none of this will be possible if the merger does not go through.