Nexon and Blizzard Rumored to Collaborate on StarCraft and Overwatch Mobile Projects

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Based on reports from a prominent Korean video game website MTN, a significant figure in South Korea’s gaming industry is teaming up with Blizzard Entertainment. This collaboration could revitalize one of the most renowned gaming franchises and introduce a novel mobile game. If this alliance materializes, it will combine Nexon’s expertise in massive online games with Blizzard’s famous intellectual properties.

The collaboration follows fierce competition among leading game developers in South Korea, with companies such as NCSoft and Netmarble participating, all eager to partner with Blizzard’s popular universes. In the end, it was Nexon who came out on top, winning the opportunity to delve into a project that has gamers excitedly waiting. This is Blizzard’s initial significant collaboration with a Korean studio, underscoring the increasing impact of South Korea’s gaming sector.

As a passionate admirer, let me express that the core of this agreement revolves around the legendary StarCraft franchise, a real-time strategy series that has been a cultural titan since its launch in 1998. Renowned for its captivating sci-fi narrative and competitive gameplay, ‘StarCraft’ has left an indelible mark on the gaming world, particularly in South Korea, where it remains revered to this day. The whispers suggest that Nexon has been granted the go-ahead to produce fresh content based on this iconic intellectual property, with no restrictions on the genre or format. Whether it’s a revisit of the classic RTS, a spin-off for mobile devices, or an innovative concept entirely new, the potential possibilities are vast and exciting.

Nexon is prepared to manage distribution for ‘Overwatch Mobile‘ in South Korea and Japan, marking a change from the hero-shooter foundation of ‘Overwatch’ and ‘Overwatch 2’. Rather than continuing that genre, this new title, designed specifically for mobile devices, takes on the MOBA format, borrowing elements from games like ‘League of Legends’. Some team members have informally referred to it as ‘Overwatch 3’, suggesting its expansive scale. Blizzard’s choice to concentrate on these two regions is a strategic move given the substantial mobile gaming fanbases in South Korea and Japan.

The path to this partnership wasn’t straightforward. Previously, Blizzard invited Korean studios to bid on a package deal involving ‘StarCraft’ content creation and distribution rights for ‘Overwatch Mobile’ in specific regions (South Korea and Japan) last year. However, this limited geographical control was not favorable for some companies aiming for global dominance. Additionally, creating a ‘StarCraft’ game that honors its legacy is no simple task. A new Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game would have to surpass the quality of ‘StarCraft 2’, while experimenting with other genres could potentially weaken the IP’s core charm.

I’m looking forward to discovering what direction Nexon will take with this project. Their past successes in games such as ‘MapleStory’ and ‘Blue Archive’ demonstrate their ability to manage various genres and large player communities. However, there’s a significant challenge ahead: creating something that respects the rich legacy of ‘StarCraft’ while still appealing to modern gamers. NCSoft and Netmarble have shown strong competition, with Netmarble even hosting internal competitions to generate ‘StarCraft’ concepts. The details of Nexon’s winning proposal are kept secret, but it evidently impressed Blizzard.

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2025-04-28 18:44