Blizzard Working on New IP?

Blizzard Entertainment is looking for programmers to start on a brand new unannounced game, and it is not the Next-Gen MMO. The new game is currently running on the World of Warcraft engine. Based on the job requirements, it seems they want to build a new engine from scratch.

Paul Sams had hinted twice in the past two years their interest in developing a new IP.

[Medievaldragon]

So excited. This could very well be the new IP they have been hinting lately.

[morganfell]

I don't think it's a new IP per se. Last year Blizzard revealed a list of all the IPs they had begun and then canceled. Many of the games were ones people had never heard of. Curiously missing from the canceled list was Starcraft Ghost. Blizzard stated it was never officially canceled and they hoped to resume full development internally this time as soon as they neared the end of Starcraft II and one other project in the works - which turned out to be Diablo III - was up and running.

[Medievaldragon]

Well, that could be it too, but I was under the impression that the Next-Gen MMO is the Starcraft: Ghost game. A Next-Gen MMO is referred to as an MMO able to be played cross-platform on the PC, on Xbox 360, PS3 and such. Correct me if I'm wrong. Starcraft: Ghost fills the shoes right on.

Now a new game that requires to build its client from scratch it could be a new entire game about any of the previous IPs, or a brand-new IP.

Let's suppose the next-gen mmo is Starcraft: Ghost for a moment.

The new game was revealed to be running on the WoW engine at the moment. "At the moment" is an indication that the engine will be replaced later, which means there is production of 3D models already.

So the new game is also an MMO. Probably. If the Next-Gen MMO is Starcraft: Ghost, it would be redundant to create a Starcraft MMO.

If it was a Diablo MMO -- why compete with their Diablo III multiplayer/eSports? They have said Diablo III is not an MMO. So I'm not sure they would attempt to create a Diablo MMO, specially when they have already said they plan to develop expansions for Diablo III. However, I wouldn't rule it out completely. They have said they have a new storyline after Diablo III. That the universe wasn't done beyond Diablo, Mephisto and Baal.

On the other hand, they have mentioned this new IP idea for a while. What would make the most sense looking through what they are already working on? To me what makes sense is Starcraft: Ghost (Next-Gen MMO) and a new IP (unannounced game).

[Freak of Nature]

We know all they have to offer,and they do what they do in top notch fashion.

However,I would want somehing new,fresh,a 180 from what they normally do.You know they will still churn out a spiffy high end product with all the window dressing,they dont know how to do it any other way.......

How about a new...... "Lost Vikings"....,done with all their resources,high end eye candy,Extra intelligent A.I.,deep puzzles,done in a sandbox environment?..........Ok I know,I am not holding my breath...

[Maticus]

So 2 unannounced games for Blizzard right now eh? I wondered what they were doing with all that cash they were scraping in from World of Warcraft...

[morganfell]

I don't think this is going to be an MMO title. I do think this will definitely be a console specific title. Unless they plan on doing a console MMO and I don't think that will be the case. Starcraft MMO is one thing, Ghost MMO? That doesn't really work. They are more rare than Jedi.

Starcraft Ghost was just timed wrong. It was right before the 360 launched which means originally it would have been on the PS2 and Xbox1. Not what you want right before next gen starts. So it was put on hiatus. It had two different dev houses prior to being pulled back to Blizzard.

I understand what you are saying but Blizzard has a lot of MMO titles in the fire and they really need a console title and you don't cut your teeth on a MMO first when it comes to consoles.

I am not saying it wouldn't happen, just that it is unlikely to go the MMO route. If they were I don't see it being Ghost but rather a Starcraft MMO that would by nature offer a variety of player roles as choices. I hope not though. Ghost really needs to be made.

[Elly]

Wow, they just keep coming don't they!!

[syrinx]

New IP from Blizzard would be awesome! Nice find.

[Fyzzu]

Wow that's pretty huge. It's been awhile since Blizz have done anything NEW. Looking forward to seeing what this could be!

[thetamer]

A new IP? Is this going to be a first person shooter? That would be a turn in the books!

[Elly]

ooo I hope not. I couldn't imagine Blizzard pulling that off could you?

[TheIneffableBob]

Blizzard is a pretty versatile company. They've made puzzle, racing, platforming, RPG, real-time strategy, and MMORPG games. They should be able to pull an FPS off if they wanted to.

[Freak of Nature]

I would want something fresh,not just another 1st person shooter.Even though I know they could produce a great 1st person shooter,I would still want something fresh,innovative,outside of the box,with some unique style and creativity.More "quirky",fun,a platformer?In my dreams I know....

[Elly]

But the puzzle, racing and platform were made by people who have long since left the company. Key people from those days went on to make Hellgate: London amongst other things.

[Wuushu]

I bet it's my little pwny online, but with classes! I kid, i kid. It'll be awesome!

[syrinx]

Hello Kitty?

[Torkith]

Another game? I knew of the next-gen MMO for a long time but another game, that's just awesome.

[OmarJA]

Tried the WoW trial, boring as hell (IMHO) hopefully their next MMO will be better.

[Maticus]

Well fortunately for Blizzard almost 12 million people disagree with you!

But yeah, I think anything Blizz do will be worth checking out.

[OmarJA]

Maybe because i'm more of a story driven RPGs fan...

I've tried many MMORPGs free & trials & the only one i liked was EverQuest II, it reminds me alot of Oblivion especially that the NPCs have voice acting & the environment feel so real.

[Medievaldragon]

In that case you will like Diablo III. Each NPC has its own voice recording. No idea why World of Warcraft doesn't have that option, but I guess it has to do with hard drive space. My Wrath of the Lich King folder is 15.9GB =x

[squidyj]

I was under the impression that they had already confirmed that "Project Hydra" their new next-gen MMO is their new IP. This was some time in 2k8

[Medievaldragon]

They have never confirmed/acknowledged codename Project Hydra. I was who first posted about Project Hydra from info supplied by an anonymous source. I couldn't confirm the veracity of this, but I do know the anonymous source works on the game industry.

[Nikuma]

They already said that their next-gen MMO wasn't going to be based on any existing franchises.

[Medievaldragon]

Mike Morhaime (Blizzard President) said the Next-Gen MMO was not World of Warcraft 2. He did not say it wasn't about one of the other two existing IPs. You would have to show some link to back that, if you don't mind.

Here is my Morhaime's statement link:
http://blog.wired.com/games...

[Avenged Sevenfold]

I would like to see Blizzard make a Starcraft RPG (like Diablo, but a space theme.) Maybe an FPS RPG. Anything Blizzard makes is good.

[Marquis_de_Sade]

Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be yet another superb experience for us to enjoy, Blizzard really are one of, if not the greatest developers ever.

[Medievaldragon]

It's official. It is not the next-gen MMO nor a WoW expansion. This is 100% a fifth game in very early development stages. More soon.