# StarCraft is back, and it's a shooter

> Blizzard is waking StarCraft after 16 years, but the 2030 return is an open-world shooter, not the RTS fans wanted.
- Title: StarCraft is back, and it's a shooter · The Verge | Shortify
- Summary: Blizzard is waking StarCraft after 16 years, but the 2030 return is an open-world shooter, not the RTS fans wanted. StarCraft's revival is real, but it's a…
- Keywords: starcraft, blizzard, gaming, blizzcon, shooters, technology, culture, back, it's, shooter, The Verge
- Source: The Verge — https://theverge.com/games/994371/starcraft-returns-in-2030-as-an-open-world-shooter
- Author: Terrence O'Brien
- Published: 2026-09-12T20:08:09+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: starcraft, blizzard, gaming, blizzcon, shooters, technology, culture
## StarCraft returns in 2030
Dan Hay, a VP at Blizzard, took the BlizzCon stage to announce a new game simply called StarCraft. It lands in 2030, ten years after the last StarCraft II expansion.
## Not an RTS this time
Instead of another top-down real-time strategy game, Blizzard is making an open-world shooter set in the StarCraft universe.

> rather than another top-down real-time strategy installment, the new title would be an open-world shooter
## Blizzard tried this before
StarCraft: Ghost aimed for the same 3D shooter idea back in 2002. It rotted in development hell until president Mike Morhaime confirmed the cancellation in 2014.
## Humans versus Zerg
The cinematic trailer follows the United Earth Directorate as they brace for the Zerg. The Protoss get only a passing mention.
## A grim tone
After a rousing call to militarism, the propaganda-fed soldier meets the reality of combat. The character you follow for three minutes turns out to be disposable.

> disposable fuel for the meat grinder of war
## Fans still want StarCraft III
Excitement about the thaw is real, but plenty of players are holding out for a proper strategy follow-up to 2010's StarCraft II.
## Key takeaway

StarCraft's revival is real, but it's a genre swap: the 2030 game is an open-world shooter, and an RTS sequel still isn't on the table.