StarCraft Shooter: What We Know About Blizzard’s Third Attempt

For over two decades, StarCraft fans have been eagerly awaiting a shooter adaptation of the legendary real-time strategy (RTS) series. Despite two previous attempts, Blizzard has yet to deliver a successful shooter game based in the StarCraft universe.

Now, it seems they’re gearing up for a third try, and this time, they’ve brought in a key player from the gaming industry, Dan Hay, the former head of Ubisoft’s Far Cry series.

A project with a tumultuous history

Blizzard's past efforts to create a StarCraft shooter have never been smooth. The first major attempt was StarCraft: Ghost, a highly anticipated stealth-action game announced in 2002. However, after numerous delays, the game was officially canceled in 2006.

The second project, codenamed Ares, emerged in 2019 as a Battlefield-inspired shooter, but it was also scrapped as Blizzard decided to focus its resources on Diablo IV and other big franchises.

Given this history, skepticism surrounds the newly rumored shooter. Jason Schreier, a journalist known for his insider information, revealed details about this project on a recent podcast.

According to Schreier, Blizzard is once again working on a StarCraft shooter under the leadership of Dan Hay, a veteran of the Far Cry series. Hay is tasked with taking the reins of a project that many fans had thought might never materialize.

Dan Hay and why he is critical to this project

Dan Hay's involvement is significant. Hay played a crucial role in shaping some of the most successful entries in the Far Cry franchise, including Far Cry 3, 4, and 5. Known for his expertise in crafting open-world environments and intense narrative-driven experiences, Hay brings a lot of experience in creating immersive shooter gameplay.

Under Hay's guidance, this third attempt at a StarCraft shooter may be Blizzard’s best chance yet. The Far Cry series is renowned for its emergent gameplay, where players’ actions drive the narrative forward. Bringing this approach into a StarCraft setting could finally offer players the chance to dive into the heart of the Terran-Zerg-Protoss conflict in a new and exciting way.

Dan Hay left Ubisoft and is now tasked with creating something extraordinary: a Starcraft Shooter (credits: Game News 24)

Will this shooter see the light of day?

While many are excited about the possibility of a new StarCraft shooter, Blizzard’s history of canceling similar projects casts a shadow over the current development.

Schreier himself acknowledged this, stating that Blizzard’s track record with StarCraft shooters is "not good" and that the project could be canceled at any time.

The future of this game might also hinge on Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft has expressed interest in reviving Blizzard's dormant intellectual properties, first with the recent addition of the StarCraft games to Microsoft’s Game Pass and now with the shooter project moving forward, we could be witnessing a full-scale StarCraft revival.

Microsoft is doubling down on Blizzard's blockbusters to carve a path to the future (credits: Xbox)

Third time’s the charm?

Blizzard is betting on Hay’s vision and experience to finally deliver the StarCraft shooter fans have been waiting for. If successful, this game could reinvigorate one of the most beloved gaming franchises of all time. But, with two failed attempts already in the past, fans have every reason to be cautiously optimistic.

All eyes are on Blizzard as they work to bring the StarCraft universe to life as a shooter. Whether this shooter will break the cycle of cancellations or become just another unfinished dream remains to be seen.

Feature image credits: Blizzard

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