Highlights
- Blizzard reportedly plans to unveil a new open-world StarCraft shooter led by Dan Hay later this year.
- This project marks the studio's third attempt to launch a StarCraft shooter following previous cancellations.
- Microsoft aims to revitalize the franchise by pivoting to a StarCraft shooter to reach wider audiences.
Blizzard Entertainment is gearing up to reveal a new first-person shooter set in the StarCraft universe later this year, marking a massive potential shift for the legendary strategy franchise. The unannounced project is reportedly expected to headline BlizzCon this September, sharing the spotlight with major expansions for Diablo IV and World of Warcraft. This development signals a renewed push for the IP, aiming to finally place players directly on the front lines of the Zerg and Protoss wars. The project represents a significant change in direction for the studio and is being led by Dan Hay, the former executive producer of Ubisoft’s Far Cry series.
According to the report from Windows Central, Hay, who joined Blizzard in 2022, is reportedly helming a team incubated specifically to create new versions of the studio’s classic titles. His involvement has sparked considerable interest, particularly as Blizzard recently posted job listings for an "upcoming open-world shooter game." This suggests the new title may move away from linear levels to embrace the expansive, open-world mechanics that defined Hay’s work during the commercial peak of the Far Cry series at Ubisoft Montreal.
Blizzard’s History of Cancelled Shooters
This is not Blizzard’s first attempt to adapt the RTS giant into an action game; in fact, it is at least the third. The existence of the project was notably confirmed in Jason Schreier’s 2024 book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment, as reported by VGC.
Schreier noted that despite the infamous cancellation of StarCraft: Ghost in 2006 and a later project codenamed "Ares,” described as "Battlefield in the StarCraft universe," the studio remains committed to the concept. Schreier stated, "Blizzard cannot quit StarCraft shooters; they just can’t say goodbye to them," adding that a small team kept the concept alive after "Ares" was scrapped in 2019.
Starcraft 2
For Microsoft and the Xbox division, revitalizing StarCraft appears to fit a broader strategy to leverage Activision Blizzard’s deep catalogue of historic properties. Since the acquisition, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has praised StarCraft’s esports legacy during Tokyo Game Show 2024. The timing seems calculated to broaden the franchise's appeal, especially after StarCraft Remastered and StarCraft II were added to Game Pass in November 2024.
Shifting from a complex RTS to an action-heavy shooter could make the IP accessible to a much wider console audience, potentially offering visceral combat. While excitement is building, community reaction remains cautiously optimistic given the franchise's complicated history with the genre. If the September reveal holds, it will be the first time in nearly two decades that a StarCraft action game reaches the public eye.
Fans are hopeful that with Hay’s open-world pedigree and Microsoft’s backing, this third attempt will finally succeed where others failed, delivering on the long-awaited promise of exploring the Koprulu Sector from a first-person perspective.
