For years, fans of Blizzard Entertainment’s iconic sci-fi RTS franchise have been clamoring for a sequel. While StarCraft 2 received its final DLC in 2016 and a remaster of the original game launched in 2017, the future of the series remained uncertain. Now, it appears that hope may be on the horizon, with reports suggesting that StarCraft 3 could finally be in development – but not necessarily at Blizzard.
A New Studio Takes Command
According to a report from Korean newspaper Chosun, Nexon is reportedly in discussions with Blizzard to acquire the rights to develop a sequel within the StarCraft universe. An unnamed senior gaming industry official told the publication that this deal is “on the verge of being finalized.” If true, this would mean that Nexon, a company deeply rooted in the Korean gaming scene and already having a strong relationship with Blizzard (having acquired publishing rights for PC games in Korea earlier this year), would be taking the helm of StarCraft 3 development.
While StarCraft enjoys global popularity, it maintains a massive casual and competitive following in Korea. This makes Nexon an ideal partner to revitalize the franchise and cater to its dedicated fanbase. However, the news raises questions about the direction Blizzard intends to take with the series moving forward.
Is It RTS or Shooter?
The possibility of a StarCraft game developed by Nexon isn’t without its own set of uncertainties. Earlier this year, another report suggested that Blizzard and Nexon were collaborating on a shooter within the StarCraft universe. This could potentially resurrect the long-canceled project, StarCraft: Ghost. However, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier mentioned in 2024 that this shooter was being led by former Far Cry lead Dan Hay, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
BlizzCon 2026: The Stage is Set
With all these rumors swirling, the gaming community eagerly awaits official confirmation. It’s highly likely that any major announcements regarding StarCraft (and other Blizzard titles like World of Warcraft and Overwatch) will be unveiled during the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026 on September 7th. The event promises to be a pivotal moment for Blizzard, as they look to build upon recent successes, including a surprise update for StarCraft 2 that significantly altered the game’s meta.
Polygon has reached out to Blizzard for comment and will provide updates as more information becomes available. For now, fans can only speculate about what the future holds for the beloved sci-fi franchise.
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