Blizzard nears deal with Nexon for new StarCraft games as BlizzCon 2026 approaches

What we know so far: Although StarCraft has seemingly been on Blizzard's back burner for several years, recent reports and events suggest that it could be planning a revival of its iconic RTS franchise. However, the plans likely involve an outside developer, Nexon, and it remains unclear whether the South Korean company aims to deliver StarCraft III or a spin-off.

A game industry source recently informed South Korean outlet Chosun Daily that Blizzard is on the verge of closing its rumored deal with Nexon to develop new StarCraft games. The deal might also include the rights to publish an Overwatch mobile title.

StarCraft and Overwatch have not yet appeared on Nexon's South Korean or global websites, but word of the agreement initially circulated last year, when it was reported that Nexon had outbid other Asian game publishers such as Krafton. Blizzard would hand over the rights to publish a new Overwatch title, likely a mobile MOBA, as well as the rights to develop an unspecified StarCraft follow-up.

However, the new entry's genre remains unclear. Nexon could make a first-person shooter, effectively reviving the canceled StarCraft: Ghost, or it might develop a direct sequel to StarCraft II. That game's 2010 release ended a then-historically long wait after the original revolutionized the real-time strategy genre in 1998, and nearly as much time has passed since StarCraft II's final campaign, Legacy of the Void, launched in 2017.

Blizzard transitioned the RTS into maintenance mode in 2020 but released a large update in June of 2026 that significantly rebalanced the game. After nearly six years of dormancy, some expert players described the new patch as essentially a new game, sparking speculation that Blizzard aims to revive the IP.

While StarCraft is an American property with a global appeal, handing the reins to South Korea-based Nexon would be unsurprising, as the franchise has been particularly popular and impactful in that country. StarCraft is credited with heavily influencing the development of South Korea's esports scene and even the deployment of the country's internet infrastructure. StarCraft II still ranks among South Korea's top 10 cyber café games 16 years after its initial release.

Notably, Chosun Daily's report comes a little over a week before BlizzCon 2026, set for September 12 and 13. Blizzard has not indicated whether it plans to announce any new games at the event's opening ceremony.