Blizz exec hints at Starcraft 2

By Tom Bramwell Published 16 January, 2007

During TBC launch event. He wants another Diablo, too.

One of Blizzard's gold-encrusted execs has said that he "hopes" there will be another StarCraft game in the near future.

"As a Starcraft player I can tell you that I hope it wouldn't go a decade - we launched Starcraft in '98 - I hope it wouldn't go a decade before we stand here and celebrate the next Starcraft together," Itzik Ben Bassat told crowds gathered at World of Warcraft expansion The Burning Crusade's official launch event in London last night.

"Don't forget that we have two more franchises that we love - Diablo and Starcraft," Bassat had declared.

"We haven't forgotten that we have these two franchises, and what I can tell you is that I look forward to stand here in a few years, or whenever it's going to be, and celebrate with you the launch of the next Starcraft or the next Diablo."

According to our people on the ground, the Blizzard PRs "looked a bit uncomfortable" around this point. So that's welcome to the Internet the hard way, really.

Whether all that means Bassat knows something that we don't though, or whether he's just teasing or speculating, is impossible to say - but Blizzard is notoriously secret and perfectionist about its work, and it wouldn't be a massive surprise to discover a sequel lurking in development somewhere.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Pike #1 5 years ago

    Although I'd like a new, proper, Starcraft game I'm still a bitt miffed that SC: Ghost got canned. I thought that looked like a pretty promising concept as well.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/07 @ 09:03

  • UncleLou #2 5 years ago

    Blizzard is starting to annoy me a little. Is there anything officially announced at all?

    I want Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, and a new IP would be nice, too. And not just when WoW's last server gets switched off.

  • pjmaybe #3 5 years ago

    If this is even remotely MMO, I will destroy them. All of them. Hunt them down like dogs.

    Peej

  • Pike #4 5 years ago

    So, UL, are you getting back into WoW, now that BC is released?

  • Mudo #5 5 years ago

    I'm particularly interested if they can add something new to the RTS genre.
    I mean, they don't have to. The Starcraft name alone guarantees massive sales and good reviews (from some places), but I'm still quite intrigued.

  • Have_to_Speak_Up #6 5 years ago

    The Blizzard PR look permanently nervous anyway... they have those collars fitted like in Battle Royale. If anyone mentions anything concrete about an un-announced game... boom!

  • AcidSnake #7 5 years ago

    Good...err....news?
    Well, good rumour anyway...
    I'm sure Starcraft is eagerly awaited by a lot of people...And I'm one of them...

  • Drpwnage #8 5 years ago

    Well the Koreans will be happy :>

  • Eighthours #9 5 years ago

    Was Ghost ever properly canned? I saw a newer preview for it in Edge only a few months ago...

  • Dizzy #10 5 years ago

    I would kill for World of Starcraft.

  • space_ace #11 5 years ago

    but what's the analysts' opinion?

  • Pike #12 5 years ago

    Hopefully you are right, eighthours. Maybe it was just moved to next-gen consoles.

  • asphaltcowboy #13 5 years ago

    What? Blizzard have other IPs?!

  • Wite_Noiz #14 5 years ago

    I've been waiting for many years for SC2, but I feel now that the moment is lost.
    I've never felt 3D RTSs really make for good games (excluding the Total War series).

    In the hidden sequence in WC3 where you can see Zergs as they would look in the WC3 engine, I honestly thought "God, I hope they don't do that".

    An isometric RTS would never sell, though; so they'll have to do 3D - but I don't hold any high hopes that they'll find a decent way of doing that.

    Also, I can't even imagine what you'd do to improve or extend SC. The feel, control, and balance of the game was so good - that's why it has endured as a favourite of many RTS fans (myself included).

  • Azazel #15 5 years ago

    "We will have a new Starcraft game for you as soon as we are done rolling in our massive pool of gold."

  • Eraser #16 5 years ago

    If they do a new starcraft, they have to keep it pure. Just use the latest rendering shizzammagizzies and keep the gameplay as it was.

  • Pike #17 5 years ago

    Keep everything as it used to be, only with a fresh coat of paint? While Relic and Massive entertainment move the genre forward with Company of heroes and World in Conflict? I really don't think that is a bright idea.

  • dbeamish #18 5 years ago

    I thought Blizzard canned Ghost and gave it to another developer. However what happened after that I don't recall/care.

  • UncleLou #19 5 years ago

    An isometric RTS would never sell, though; so they'll have to do 3D

    3D and an isometric perspective aren't mutually exclusive. Age of Empires 3 or Rise of Legends (or Titan Quest, to name an example form another genre) all look gorgeous, and play as well as any isometric game due to the mostly fixed cameras.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/07 @ 10:28

  • rudedudejude #20 5 years ago

    I don't think they really need to speculate tbh. With all the cash they're raking in, and the worldwide popularity of both franchises they could make a Starcraft or Diablo platformer and it'd likely sell amazing.

    They need to blow their millions somewhere and it ain't all going on WoW patches and upkeep, that's for sure.

  • thefishmonger #21 5 years ago

    Starcraft MMO

  • InfiniteFury #22 5 years ago

    There's an actualy possibility however slender that I would actually and very physically blow my wad if they annonuced World of Starcraft.

    I mean an old-school Starcraft would be awesome but, gah, I dare not even think it for fear of breaking my trousers.

  • UncleLou #23 5 years ago

    Not unlikely at all in the long run - not only is the Starcraft universe almost perfect for an MMORPG, they could also try to get all sci-fi fans on board who don't like the fantasy setting of WoW. Although I'd imagine they'd wait until WoW's subscription numbers start to fall.

  • NthSimulachum #24 5 years ago

    WOS?

    How would that even work?

    Mining Quest:

    Hello there, GAYLESBOSTEN, We Require More Vespene Gas.

    Goal: 0/1000 Vespene Gas

    Kill three critters.

  • Goffee #25 5 years ago

    Come off it, I still haven't got over Diablo II yet,

    And my life has moved on since those days, I'm grown up - have things to do.... want a life.......


    sob

  • Kiigan #26 5 years ago

    About fucking time. I mean really. Hurry the fucking fuck up!

    Mixed feelings though. Although I've been after more Starcraft since... well since SC Brood Wars, I don't know if I want Starcraft to be in proper 3D. Or a goddamn MMO or something. A lot of hardcore Starcraft fans including myself will be watching for announcements very closely! Don't ruin the game, please.

  • UncleLou #27 5 years ago

    I really wouldn't get too excited, there have been rumours about Diablo 3 (often based on Blizzard employees' statements, too) for years now, and there still hasn't been an announcment. Could easily be the same in this case.

  • pjmaybe #28 5 years ago

    "I would kill for World of Starcraft."

    I would kill Blizzard if they did it :)

    Peej

  • Nova5lag #29 5 years ago

    D3 was kinda confirmed a while back I recall... then went back under wraps with an unknown source saying it had to go back to the drawing board. Wouldnt surprise me if that was true as EG quite rightly pointed out they are perfectionists.

    However... bring on some new stuff Blizzard only because I miss the Blizzard logo... to me that produces the *great film tingle* only for games... Only Valve manage to get that same reaction.

  • rudedudejude #30 5 years ago

    The Blizzard logo is class I must admit, when it appears in that interlaced movie format it looks sweet :D

  • Wite_Noiz #31 5 years ago

    @UncleLou - True, I was being lazy and using 3D to describe a complete free viewing system a la WarCraft 3.
    I generally find being forced to move the camera in every axis in order to control troops makes RTSs like WC and SC much harder and less appealing.

    It works well enough in the Total War series because these are truly tactical RTSs where the action is much more... life-like (if you'll let me have that).

    A 3D-rendered fixed-camera RTS might work; but what would that add to the series other than a new coat of paint? (Which isn't a bad thing, I suppose.)
    I can't think of much that could be improved on the original.

  • fawe3 #32 5 years ago

    Yey, unofficial anouncement of Starcraft 2. Now all we need to wait if for another year for an official anouncement, then another year for first screenshot, then another year for a movie, then another year for beta, and another year for polishing and its here.
    Yepeee for us, unless Iran developes nuclear warheads by that thime and start doing fallout on every non muslim.

    sp. 2D pixelgraphic would be better for me also
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/07 @ 15:27

  • elvenearth #33 5 years ago

    How about a MMO Strategy game? Could it work?

  • UncleLou #34 5 years ago

    Wite_Noiz, I completely agree, I am not a fan of free camera movements in RTS or RPG games, either.

    3d though has many advantages, even if a fixed camera is used.

  • Poorandugly #35 5 years ago

    I'd like to see Blizzard attempt a story driven single-player rpg. The cut scenes in diablo II still makes the hair on my fore arms stand up.

  • yagisencho #36 5 years ago

    A Starcraft RPG sounds great, but please *don't* make it an MMO.

  • hjarg #37 5 years ago

    How about StarCraft RTS and MMO? This way all would be satisfied.
    Dunno how they'd manage to make Zergs playable... low hp, low value players and lots of them? :p

  • Machetazo #38 5 years ago

    /hopes the Hellgate London for 360 rumblings turn out to be well founded...Wonders whether Starcraft 2 will be worthwhile waiting for. Blizzard may have beaten out C&C with it's own RTS games but they've had their head in MMO land for so long...Can they still deliver?