While it’s impossible to predict what a future StarCraft title may look like, the game’s place in the history of strategy and esports is undeniable.
While many video games in recent years have enjoyed reboots, sequels, and remasters, not all titles have been as fortunate. However, some old video games, despite their age, remain popular even in this age of next-gen graphics and ultra-realistic in-game worlds. One such game is Blizzard’s science fiction real-time strategy classic, Starcraft.
In a previous post, we shared how the title became a World Video Game Hall of Fame inductee, joining past classics like Pong, Tetris, Mortal Kombat, and the evergreen Super Mario Kart. Released in 1998, StarCraft is the subsequent Blizzard game to join the lobby in 2021, following Blizzard’s favorite, World of Warcraft, which was inducted into the National Museum of Play in 2015.
A board of writers and computer game history specialists helps the esteemed body make an official choice every year. Other titles inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year include Nintendo’s Animal Crossing and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
But what does that mean for Starcraft and its legacy? According to The Strong’s National Museum of Play, video games eligible for the Hall of Fame must meet the following four criteria: Icon Status, Longevity, Geographical Reach, and Influence.
As such, being included on the prestigious list is a testament to StarCraft’s enduring legacy and place in video game and esports history. Below, we’ll take a closer look at what sets Starcraft apart from other games during its time and after, its lasting esports scene, and the future of Starcraft:
Starcraft and the RTS Genre
At the time of its release, Starcraft stood out even among fellow Blizzard titles. For one, the game is a stark contrast to another of Blizzard’s real-time strategy series of games — World of Warcraft — due to its sci-fi setting instead of the typical fantasy or historical genre.
Players have the option to choose from three distinct factions specializing in different unit and building types. While the game can be played as a single-player campaign, the title truly shines as a cerebral and competitive PvP experience, likened to a digital, alien-packed game of chess.
The game quickly grew popular in South Korea and the rest of the world, earning praise as one of the “benchmark real-time strategy games of its time.” Today, South Korea continues to host StarCraft tournaments, where professional players and teams participate in matches, earn sponsorships, and compete in televised events.
Over a decade after the first game’s release in 1998, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty was released as an official sequel in 2010. The sequel boasted a new 3D graphics engine and introduced new features showing off the Havok physics engine.
The success of StarCraft spawned two spin-off titles recognized by hardcore fans as complementary to the original game, as well as a failed attempt at a tactical stealth third-person shooter titled StarCraft Ghost, announced in 2002 and officially canceled by 2014.
Starcraft’s esports scene
As explained above, Starcraft’s competitive scene remains alive and kicking, over a decade after the last official release in 2010. In 2024, major Starcraft tournaments are still being held in countries around the world, including the WardiTV Korean Royale in South Korea, as well as the ESL Starcraft II Masters 2024 legs held in the Americas and Asia.
Of course, the Starcraft esports scene isn’t reduced to just casual showmatches. In August 2024, the game is one of 22 esports titles featured at the inaugural Esports World Cup held in Saudi Arabia.
Popular esports organization Team Liquid’s Clem took first place in Starcraft II after a dominant performance against other teams, including the aforementioned BASILISK, Weibo Gaming, and more. This isn’t Clem’s first victory in his professional Starcraft career. The player had placed first in the Spring Masters and has won various other first- and second-place titles since beginning to compete in 2020.
The Future of Starcraft
Ever since the release and success of Starcraft II, fans and enthusiasts of the niche esports game have anticipated a future sequel or reboot of the game. After all, many beloved classics and esports titles have seen reboots and remasters, whether it’s the horror story-based Resident Evil and Silent Hill games or shooters like Halo and Counter-Strike, which saw a long-awaited sequel released over a decade after the original game.
On Blizzard’s end, the possibility of a Starcraft III reaching release appears distant. However, rumors of a StarCraft shooter have long circulated in niche corners of the Internet. According to a recent IGN interview, Far Cry 5 director Dan Hay has officially acknowledged a recent project aimed at creating a shooter inside Starcraft’s sci-fi universe.
There was also a vague project codenamed “Ares,” rumored to be a Battlefield-like first-person shooter set in the StarCraft universe, before it was canceled by Blizzard to make way for Diablo IV and Overwatch 2.
While there’s no telling what a future StarCraft title may look like, the video game’s place in the history of strategy and esports is undeniable. With a still-active esports and betting scene, as well as avid players still playing the title for prosperity, a reboot or remaster of the real-time strategy series may not be totally out of the question.
