New StarCraft title to launch in 2030, will be an open-world FPS

Blizzard Entertainment revealed at BlizzCon 2026 that the next installment in the StarCraft series will abandon its traditional real-time strategy roots in favor of an open-world first-person shooter format. The game, simply titled StarCraft, is scheduled for release in 2030, with Blizzard general manager Dan Hay leading development. Hay emphasized the team’s focus on exploration and discovery, stating the game aims to let players experience different factions and environments firsthand.

Hay described the game’s narrative structure in interviews, noting players can create and name their own character whose story will have a clear beginning, middle, and end. The experience is designed as a standalone, boxed game with a definitive ending, contrasting with live-service models. Players will explore a rich open world but follow a linear story arc, avoiding seasonal content structures.

This marks the franchise’s first new title since StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void in 2015 and its first attempt at an FPS since the cancelled StarCraft Ghost in 2006 and project Ares in 2019. The shift reflects Blizzard’s effort to modernize the series while maintaining its core themes of conflict and exploration.

BlizzCon 2026 also featured announcements for Diablo 5, set for spring 2029, and World of Warcraft: Forever, a remastered expansion for the original WoW with new zones, quests, and a beta starting September 17 ahead of its November 4 release.