Blizzard Abandons Real-Time Strategy for Open-World StarCraft Shooter
Blizzard's next mainline StarCraft game will not be a real-time strategy sequel as fans have long requested.
The studio confirmed at BlizzCon 2026 that the new game, simply titled StarCraft, is an open-world shooter set roughly 70 years after the events of StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void.
This shift marks a significant departure from the franchise's roots in real-time strategy, which have been its defining feature since its release in 1998.
The new game will be developed over several years, with a release date set for 2030. This long development time may allow Blizzard to create an open-world shooter that effectively incorporates the franchise's military science fiction lore.
Blizzard has not revealed how much of the Koprulu Sector's conflict between the Terran, Zerg, and Protoss factions will be retained in the new game.