StarCraft: Remastered Announced, Coming This Summer

StarCraft Anthology will become free before the remaster is released.

By Andrew Goldfarb

Blizzard has announced a new remastered version of StarCraft set to release this summer.

StarCraft: Remastered will feature a "full graphical overhaul" with "widescreen UHD support for up to 4K resolution" including updates to units, buildings, and environments, according to Blizzard. The soundtrack and dialogue have also been remastered, and other improvements include new illustrations, matchmaking updates, cloud saves, custom maps, replays, 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," Blizzard said in its announcement. No pricing or specific release date have been announced.

Blizzard says StarCraft: Remastered will include “all content” from the original game, as well as its expansion, StarCraft: Brood War.

Separate from the remaster, Blizzard also announced that Brood War will be updated to version 1.18 this week, with bug fixes, the ability to rebind keys, observer mode, “modern anti-cheat measures,” and more. StarCraft Anthology, which includes the original game and Brood War, will be available for free following the update.

You can see screenshots from StarCraft: Remastered in the gallery below.

“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,” Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime said 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.”

StarCraft first launched in 1998, followed by Brood War later that year. A remastered version has been rumored since last year.

For a look back at the original, read IGN’s review of StarCraft, and stay tuned for more on the remastered edition.

Andrew is IGN’s executive editor of news and thinks Zergs can be cute. You can find him rambling about Persona and cute animals on Twitter.

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