REPORT: New Open World FPS StarCraft Game Revealed, Set To Launch In 2030
20 years between StarCraft games? Okay...
"ColonelFancy" Mike Lind
9/15/20263 min read
StarCraft fans have waited a very long time for a new entry in the series. At Blizzcon 2026, Blizzard revealed a new title in the form of a cinematic trailer simply titled "Dominion", a group of newly recruited Terran soldiers are set to make their first battle. This will mar the first StarCraft game since 2010's StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
More details were explained about what this game will be, as well as some information about its far-off release date. VP and GM of StarCraft Dan Hay had an interview with InvenGlobal to shed some light on this teaser. The biggest point of contention is this entry being a considerable departure from the series' roots; it will be an open world first-person shooter. Hay as also stated that this game will not be a live service project. What a state we live in when that almost counts as a statement most projects have to make?
If I were to describe the overall structure we currently envision, it's a "box product." It is a narrative-driven open-world shooter where players create a character, name them, and follow that character's story. The story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
You can roam around and explore a rich open world, but our story has a definitive ending. Think of it as purchasing a standalone boxed game, playing it, and experiencing its story. We hope players enjoy it, love it, and return to us later. At the very least, what we are building right now is not a seasonal game.
InvenGlobal phrased the question in several ways about why this new StarCraft game is such a departure from the Real-time Strategy genre, especially for the older players, who may not be as adept at shooting games as the younger generation. The answers reverted right back to the strong narrative and lore this new game may boast while also being player friendly:
"The game we are making must also respect what came before. I believe we must start from StarCraft's lore, legacy, and what the game meant back then," Hay explains.
"The shooter we are building features a deep story, main missions, side quests, and character progression. While it will be a gritty and challenging game, we aren't trying to make it overly punishing. We want to present a degree of challenge while letting players experience an adventure within it. In particular, if a certain mission feels too difficult, you can return to the open world and engage in other activities at your own pace."
Senior Producer Paul Lee adds to the response.
"Questions about transitioning from an RTS to a shooter have come up several times, but as Dan mentioned, story is one of StarCraft's core pillars, and it's an element we definitely intend to maintain in this game.
I am also Korean-American and play many games made in Korea. It's easy to assume the Korean market is more accustomed to live-service or free-to-play titles. However, looking at recent boxed titles developed by Korean studios—games like Lies of P, Stellar Blade, Crimson Desert, and Dave the Diver—they each cover different genres and target different spaces, yet they possess compelling stories, gameplay, and narratives, receiving great responses from both global and Korean players.
As someone of Korean descent, I completely understand why questions arise about how StarCraft, originally an RTS, will transition into a shooter. However, I believe the core essence of StarCraft's story, its conflicts, and its narrative are elements that can resonate across generations of players. We want to treasure and preserve that aspect in this game as we show it to players throughout development."
This won't be Blizzard's first dance with a shooter-based StarCraft game. Announced in 2002, StarCraft: Ghosts was aimed to be a stealth action game for the Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2. Set four years after StarCraft: Brood War, it was also supposed to immerse the fans into the richer lore of the StarCraft universe. The development cycle was nightmarish, the project shifted to various production teams. The GameCube version was cancelled in 2004. By 2012, StarCraft: ghost was unceremoniously cancelled. For its sake, the new StarCraft game may avoid the same fate. If you're a fan of StarCraft, are you excited for this announcement? You can leave your thoughts on our front page.