The official StarCraft website has begun displaying unusual visual glitches, sparking speculation about a potential revival of the long-dormant real-time strategy franchise. These anomalies, appearing on the section dedicated to 2017's StarCraft Remastered, have been interpreted by fans as a deliberate marketing effort rather than technical malfunctions. The glitches involve intermittent distortion of images and text.
This activity gains significance given the StarCraft franchise's quiet period in recent years. Prior to these website events, rumors had circulated about a potential StarCraft shooter in development, with some reports suggesting it could be revealed at the upcoming BlizzCon. More recently, a report from The Chosun Daily indicated that Nexon is pursuing the rights to develop a new StarCraft real-time strategy title, possibly StarCraft III.
The StarCraft series, comprising StarCraft II's three main installments released between 2010 and 2015, has seen no new game announcements or releases since the remaster of the original title. Blizzard's strategic focus shifted towards maintaining titles like World of Warcraft and Diablo, alongside the development of Overwatch, leading to the real-time strategy genre taking a backseat. This has been a point of disappointment for fans of the series, considered among the best in the genre, especially after the prolonged anticipation for the ultimately canceled StarCraft: Ghost spin-off.
A significant update to StarCraft II earlier this year may have been an early effort to re-engage the player base in anticipation of potential new content. The nature of any forthcoming StarCraft game remains uncertain. If the rumored shooter is the sole focus, it would mark a departure from the series' real-time strategy roots, a genre Blizzard has largely moved away from with both Warcraft and StarCraft. The possibility of a new RTS developed by Nexon could soften this blow for strategy fans, though Blizzard's direct involvement would likely be a key factor in managing expectations.
BlizzCon's opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at 10:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM ET. This event is seen as the most probable venue for any official announcements regarding the future of the StarCraft franchise.