Blizzard Entertainment just announced that it will launch StarCraft: Remastered, a remade version of the real-time strategy hit that debuted in 1998.
The remake will have 4K graphics and 1080p cinematics, upgraded audio, and a comics-like mission narrative and introduction. The gameplay will be “precisely” the same as the original title. StarCraft is one of the most celebrated games of all time, and it is a national pastime in South Korea, where it has carried on as an esport for almost two decades.
The game will also include all of the content from the expansion pack, StarCraft: Brood War. I have some very fond memories of this game, which I played with friends across the U.S. It was always a frenzied battle, with each side trying to mine enough resources, build units, defend a base, and attack the others — all as the action unfolded in real time.
“StarCraft is a pure distillation of Blizzard’s DNA — its story, its balance, and all the little details reflect our long-running commitment to epic entertainment, and it’s been a staple in competitive gaming and esports for almost 20 years,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment, in a statement. “With StarCraft: Remastered, we’re modernizing the original game’s visuals, audio, and online support to ensure that players can enjoy StarCraft for another 20 years and beyond.”
Above: StarCraft Remastered.
The remastered graphics and audio will bring a modern look and feel to the classic game, with widescreen UHD support for up to 4K resolution. Other updates will include new illustrations to enhance storytelling in the StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War campaign missions; advanced matchmaking; full connectivity to Blizzard’s gaming network for social features and updates; cloud saving for campaign progress, custom maps, replays, and keybinds; support for eight new languages in addition to the original five; and more.
While these improvements will bring StarCraft to the modern era, gameplay and balance have been precisely preserved for an experience that will feel identical to veteran players. The game will launch on Windows and Mac PCs, with a release coming this summer. Pricing and other information will be released later.
In preparation for StarCraft: Remastered, Blizzard Entertainment will update StarCraft: Brood War later this week to version 1.18. The update will include bug fixes and improvements, including the ability to rebind keys; observer mode; modern anti-cheat measures; compatibility improvements for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10; and more. Once the update is live, StarCraft Anthology, which includes the original game and the Brood War expansion, will be free to download and play.
