Abstract:
According to senior sources in the Korean gaming industry, Nexon is advancing its plan to acquire the IP content development rights for "StarCraft" from Blizzard, and the contract between the two parties is nearing the final stage. The source said that "once the contract is completed, Nexon will obtain the development rights for the existing "StarCraft" sequel" - given that "StarCraft 2" has been released, this means that Nexon is expected to develop "StarCraft 3".
"StarCraft" was first released in 1998. It sparked a craze through Korean Internet cafe culture and formed the so-called "StarCraft Syndrome", which played a decisive role in the popularization of high-speed Internet in South Korea and the establishment of the e-sports ecosystem. In July 2004, the Pro League finals held at Gwangalli Beach in Busan attracted 100,000 people to watch the game. The first generation of star professional players such as Lin Yaohuan and Hong Zhenhao all came from "StarCraft". Blizzard also relied on the success of this game to become a global game company.
Blizzard is now owned by Microsoft (Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023). It is reported that many game companies around the world have expressed interest in the IP development rights of "StarCraft", but Nexon was selected as the priority negotiation target due to its continued cooperation with Blizzard (including the recent signing of the "Overwatch" distribution agreement in South Korea).
Industry analysts believe that if Nexon obtains the IP development rights for "StarCraft" and launches a sequel that meets the tastes of Korean players, it is expected to achieve great success.
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