StarCraft 3 Reportedly in Development Through Partnership with Nexon

A surprising new report indicates that StarCraft 3 may be in the works, potentially marking a revival for the dormant real-time strategy series. However, development is reportedly not being handled by Blizzard Entertainment, the franchise's original creator. Instead, South Korean company Nexon is said to be in talks with Blizzard to acquire the rights for a new StarCraft title.

According to a report from Korean newspaper Chosun, the deal between Nexon and Blizzard is nearing finalization, citing an unnamed senior industry official. If this agreement proceeds, Nexon would likely take the lead in developing StarCraft 3. The StarCraft series holds significant cultural and competitive relevance in Korea, where Nexon is headquartered.

This potential partnership is not the first rumor linking Nexon and Blizzard regarding the StarCraft franchise this year. An earlier report suggested a collaboration on a shooter within the StarCraft universe, possibly aiming to revive the canceled StarCraft: Ghost. It remains unclear if this rumored shooter is the same project mentioned by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, which was reportedly spearheaded by former Far Cry lead Dan Hay.

Blizzard Entertainment released the final DLC for StarCraft 2 in 2016, and the series has remained largely dormant since, save for the remaster of the original game in 2017. The franchise has maintained a dedicated casual and competitive fanbase globally, particularly in Korea. Nexon already has an established relationship with Blizzard, having secured the publishing rights for Overwatch on PC in Korea earlier this year.

Any official announcements regarding StarCraft or other Blizzard titles, such as World of Warcraft and Overwatch, are expected during the BlizzCon opening ceremony. The event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PDT on September 12. Blizzard has not yet issued an official comment on the reports. Notably, Blizzard released a surprise update for StarCraft 2 in June that altered the game's meta, suggesting continued, albeit minimal, engagement with the franchise.