StarCraft returns in 2030 as an open-world shooter

is the Verge’s weekend editor. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.

Blizzard originally tried to bring the StarCraft universe to the world of 3D shooters way back in 2002 with StarCraft: Ghost. It sat in development hell for years until Blizzard president Mike Morhaime confirmed that it had been canceled in 2014. Now Blizzard is giving it another go with the simply titled StarCraft. Dan Hay, a VP at Blizzard, took the stage at BlizzCon today to reveal that after more than a decade of lying dormant, StarCraft would be returning in 2030. But, rather than another top-down real-time strategy installment, the new title would be an open-world shooter.

He then showed off a cinematic trailer for the title that focused on the human United Earth Directorate faction as they prepare to face off against the Zerg. The Protoss are limited to passing mention. What’s obvious from the trailer is that the new take on the StarCraft franchise won’t be pulling many punches. After a rousing call to militarism, the propaganda-fueled human is faced with the brutal realities of battle, and the character we’ve been following for the last 3 minutes is revealed to be disposable fuel for the meat grinder of war.

While fans are definitely excited that Blizzard is defrosting the long-dormant series, I’m sure plenty are still holding their breath, hoping for a proper RTS follow-up to 2010’s StarCraft II.

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