Blizzard Confirms Unannounced Fourth Game, Next-Gen MMO Not Diablo 3
"There is still one unknown project," Blizzard executive VP Rob Pardo revealed to OnlineWelten during the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational. "We have another development team."
Pardo affirmed that Blizzard's recent job listings for an "unannounced next-gen MMO" were not related to Diablo III. The company had previously stated that the project was not a World of Warcraft expansion either.
Fans have long speculated that Blizzard may follow the ultra-successful World of Warcraft with a World of StarCraft MMO. The three-faction scenario and multi-world setting would seem to lend itself well to the MMO format.
Others believe that the project could be a new franchise, as Blizzard has not created a new property since StarCraft's release in 1998.
"The idea of a new franchise is very intriguing to employees of the company," said Blizzard chief operating officer Paul Sams to Gamasutra in a recent interview. "Are we ever going to release a new one? I would absolutely say we will at some point. I just don't know when that day will be quite yet."
And as for a release date on any of the three known titles? "We ship the games when they're ready," Pardo commented. "You guys know this."
-
RikiTiki2
replymaybe this can be a new franchise? lol
-
it's a starcraft universe mmo. :(
-
-
I hope its not another mmo. STOP SENDING ME CRACK DAMN YOU :(
-
-
Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.
-
-
-
anyone remembers there's Warhammer 40,000 MMO in the works?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_40%2C000_Online
-
-
ya, i agree. it seems like with their franchises being so successful the chances of them creating something new look slim.
-
[deleted]
-
-
[deleted]
-
It seems to be really obvious right?
Diablo MMO would make no sense at all, it would be too close to the actual game series. WoW will live on for some time (with new expansions) and we probably won't live to see a WoW2. They always talk about possible new IPs in the future, but not as if they have one in the works, so it's either a SC MMO or World of Rock n Roll Racing / Blackthorne / 3Vikings-where the last are too small brands actually.
Blizzard isn't stupid and this way they repeat what they did with WoW, release a new RTS, expansion and once everyone longs for more an MMO.
-
-
I think it has to be, personally. They've said it isn't a sequal to WoW, which rules WarCraft out. They have other games slated for the StarCraft and Diablo IPs already. I don't think they will want to release another game with those IPs so quickly after. The only other options are a new IP or Blackthorne Online...
-
I'm torn on this. I agree that a Starcraft MMO seems like an obvious, safe, profitable plan. However, the proximity to SC2 makes it more questionable. Also, people have been griping for a while now that Blizzard needs to do something new. Maybe they're actually doing that this time? With 2 other "safe" projects in the pipe and WoW still going strong, maybe they feel like they can take a risk with this one.
-
-
Do we really know how long this next-gen project has been in the works, though? I'd agree that your scenario seems posible or even likely, but I don't know for sure.
-
-
-
-
