StarCraft Trailer Sparks Mixed Reactions
BlizzCon 2024 featured a StarCraft cinematic that generated universal excitement, which quickly faded when the screen displayed “STARCRAFT RETURNS 2030.” The announcement that the sequel would be an open‑world shooter further dampened enthusiasm, and the surprise reveal of Diablo 5 slated for 2029 felt out of step, given the six‑year gap after Diablo 4.
Long‑Term Game Announcements Feel Outdated
Publishing game releases more than a couple of years in advance feels like a relic; gamers now expect delays and add “at the earliest” as a footnote. Promising a launch “around the corner” builds goodwill, while stating a multi‑year horizon risks exhausting the hype cycle before the title even materializes.
Blizzard’s Vision and Staffing Needs
Blizzard president Johanna Faries spoke to Bloomberg ahead of BlizzCon. She said the company wants to “convey confidence in some of its biggest bets” and emphasized that “we’re a Blizzard that’s going to ship, and ship big, and ship on time, and all hands on deck to set those projects up for success.”
Blizzard has so far managed to avoid being hit by Microsoft’s recent layoffs, but more are coming next year. It’s a good time to make sure everyone knows you’ve got loads of exciting projects in the works and you need as many staff as possible to make them a reality.
While Faries didn’t discuss the possibility of job losses, she did say she wanted BlizzCon to be “a sort of oasis, a moment for real joy” for both Blizzard’s staff and its fans, and that she was “completely focused on creating as healthy a Blizzard as possible”.
