The official StarCraft website has become the subject of intense speculation following the emergence of a 'glitching' effect on its pages. While the site currently showcases StarCraft Remastered, released in 2017, random flickering of its elements, images, and text blocks has led many to wonder if Blizzard is preparing to announce a new entry in the real-time strategy series.
This online anomaly coincides with recent reports suggesting Blizzard's involvement with Korean gaming giant Nexon for a new StarCraft title. Though Blizzard has historically declined to comment on such matters, a recent report from South Korean newspaper Chosun, as noted by Wccftech, reaffirms that Nexon is pursuing a license to develop a StarCraft game. Concurrently, there are indications that Blizzard itself has been working on an "upcoming open-world shooter," as suggested by a 2024 job posting. This project was reportedly led by Dan Hay, a former executive producer on Far Cry, who joined Blizzard in 2022.
Further fueling anticipation is the return of BlizzCon on September 12, following a three-year hiatus. Blizzard is expected to unveil significant news at the event, potentially beyond updates to its existing franchises. Notably, the first day of BlizzCon's mainstage programming features a conspicuous hour-long gap between segments, contrasting with the 15-minute intervals typical of other panels. This extended break could be earmarked for a major announcement during the opening ceremonies.
The StarCraft franchise has remained largely dormant since the 2017 release of StarCraft Remastered. StarCraft 2, launched in 2010, concluded its expansion content in 2015. The long-delayed third-person shooter StarCraft: Ghost, initially announced in 2002, was officially cancelled in 2014.
The exact duration of the website's glitch effect is currently unverified. A cursory check using the Wayback Machine on the StarCraft website from just over a week prior did not display these anomalies, though it remains unclear if such effects would be captured by the archiving service.
It is not yet clear whether the website's tease is connected to Blizzard's internal development, the potential Nexon partnership, or if these two endeavors are one and the same. Furthermore, the nature of any potential new game, including whether it would be branded as StarCraft 3, remains unknown. IGN has reached out to Blizzard for comment regarding both the website tease and the reported Nexon partnership and will provide updates upon receiving a response.
With BlizzCon less than a week away, a formal announcement regarding the future of the StarCraft series appears to be imminent.