Speculation is mounting that a new StarCraft game will be revealed at BlizzCon 2026, following a series of online occurrences and schedule anomalies. The excitement was initially fueled by a report from Korea's Chosun, which suggested that Nexon is nearing an agreement to develop a new title in the long-dormant real-time strategy series.
StarCraft has remained popular, particularly in South Korea, despite its last original installment, StarCraft 2, launching in 2010. The series has only seen a remaster in 2017. Doubts about the Chosun report emerged on the StarCraft subreddit, with some questioning whether the rumored project is StarCraft 3 or a shooter, and expressing concern over potential generative AI and microtransaction features. However, the timing of the report, just over a week before BlizzCon 2026, lent it credence.
Adding fuel to the rumors, the official StarCraft website began exhibiting unusual glitches, such as flickering text and images, behavior often associated with intentional teases before a major announcement. This technical disruption has been interpreted by fans as a significant hint.
Further fueling the speculation, the World of Warcraft subreddit identified a notable one-hour gap in the main stage schedule for BlizzCon 2026, occurring early on the first day. The prevailing fan theory is that this slot is reserved for a StarCraft-related presentation.
While a playable demo is unlikely to be present, even if a new game is announced, as no specific StarCraft area was noted on the BlizzCon floor map. The potential for a StarCraft shooter has been a recurring theme. Reports from earlier this year indicated that Blizzard was working on its own StarCraft shooter, with Dan Hay, former director of Far Cry, reportedly guiding its development. The existence of two potential StarCraft shooters, one at Nexon and one at Blizzard, seems improbable, though Hay's continued association with Blizzard suggests his project may still be internal.
Blizzard's recent activities also include seeking a "lead designer of innovation" for an open-world shooter utilizing Unreal Engine. Furthermore, the studio recently released a significant patch for StarCraft 2 and announced that BlizzCon attendees would receive a 15-day co-op XP boost for the game, small gestures that have nevertheless energized the fan base.
Given these numerous hints pointing toward a shooter, a StarCraft 3 RTS announcement seems less probable. A shooter would also align with Microsoft's strategy of focusing on games with broad market appeal. While an RTS sequel might offer a more immediate boost to Microsoft's gaming credibility, the company's recent cancellations of large survival games and MMOs suggest a preference for less risky ventures. The opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026 begins at 10:30 am PT/1:30 pm ET on September 12. Blizzard and Nexon have been contacted for comment.