Blizzard’s New StarCraft Shooter: Third Time’s the Charm?

Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly taking another swing at developing a StarCraft shooter, and this time they’ve got some heavy-hitting talent behind the wheel. Leading the charge is none other than Dan Hay, former executive producer of the Far Cry series, who joined Blizzard in 2022. This could finally be the StarCraft shooter that fans have been waiting for.

StarCraft Shooter in Development (Again)

The news comes from Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who revealed the project while discussing his new book PLAY NICE: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment on IGN’s Podcast Unlocked. Schreier confirmed that Blizzard is working on a StarCraft shooter, though he humorously noted, “If it’s not canceled!” referencing Blizzard’s notorious history of abandoning StarCraft shooter projects.

Schreier’s comments are exciting for fans who have been hoping for more than just real-time strategy games from the StarCraft universe. Though details are still under wraps, it seems that Blizzard is finally ready to make a successful push into shooter territory after two previous failed attempts.

A History of StarCraft Shooter Attempts

Blizzard’s struggles with StarCraft shooters are well-known. The first, StarCraft Ghost, was announced way back in 2002. The game, which would have placed players in the boots of a Ghost operative, was highly anticipated but faced numerous delays before its eventual cancellation in 2006.

Then, in 2019, Blizzard attempted a second shooter, codenamed Ares, which was described as “like Battlefield in the StarCraft universe.” Sadly, this project also met an untimely demise as Blizzard shifted focus to Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2.

Why This Time Could Be Different

Blizzard seems determined to finally deliver on the promise of a StarCraft shooter, and this time they’ve got Dan Hay steering the project. With Hay’s impressive track record on Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, and Far Cry Primal, it’s easy to imagine how he could help shape an open-world, immersive shooter set in the StarCraft universe.

Notably, Far Cry 5, where Hay served as creative director and executive producer, showcased his ability to blend intense action with captivating storylines—something that could translate perfectly to a franchise as rich in lore as StarCraft.

A Sign of Things to Come?

There’s a sense of cautious optimism with this third attempt at a StarCraft shooter. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, even wore a StarCraft t-shirt during Microsoft’s Tokyo Game Show 2024 broadcast, which has many fans wondering if that was a subtle tease of things to come.

With Blizzard’s previous two attempts at creating a StarCraft shooter falling flat, there’s a lot riding on this new project. But with Dan Hay at the helm and Blizzard seemingly committed to expanding the StarCraft universe, this might just be the game that finally brings StarCraft into the shooter genre successfully.

We’ll be discussing this topic and much more in the upcoming episode of the Geek Freaks podcast. Tune in here: Geek Freaks Podcast.