Blizzard's job openings.

It's been known to Blizzard fans for quite a while, but now that Diablo 3 has been officially announced, it's theoretically news that Blizzard is still working on at least one more unannounced title - and that it's a MMO. Blizzard's jobs page has been recruiting people for a "Top Secret Next-Gen MMO" project for a while now, and since that isn't Diablo 3, it must be something else.

Blizzard's Executive Vice President of Game Design, Rob Pardo, confirmed this "non-news" to OnlineWelten at Worldwide Invitational;

Leading contenders for the unannounced fourth project are the obvious ones.

• Starcraft MMO ("World of Starcraft" or "Universe of Starcraft")
• World of Warcraft 2 (either as a completely new and separate game, or as a graphic engine and asset overhaul of the existing game)
• "something completely new"

My personal bet is on "something completely new". Blizzard has not launched a new IP since 1998 (when Starcraft was published). It's a good idea to enchance and develop existing properties and add depth to their lore, but ten years without any new IP? To paraphrase the Starcraft 2 launch trailer - "Hell, it's about time".

Of course a Starcraft MMO is also a good bet. It would be consistent with Blizzard's Modus Operandi, as Warcraft 3 and World of Warcraft were in development simultaneously, with Warcraft 3 laying foundations for the MMO. Maybe the same thing will happen with Starcraft 2?

As Blizzard's plans for the next two years are now public with Wrath of the Lich King, Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 all confirmed, it may be a while until we hear about this fourth game. We might even see a third WoW expansion before Blizzard uncloaks their new MMO, and it's certain that even when they do, World of Warcraft will continue to be around with fresh content for many years to come.

Comments

	Unregistered 2008-07-02 #1 I hope, this new MMORPG, is not going to have this stylized bed time story graphics.
	iamshaked 2008-07-02 #2 Quote: Originally Posted by Unregistered I hope, this new MMORPG, is not going to have this stylized bed time story graphics. Right because every game that uses this type of graphics sucks hmm? I like TF2 bite me Wish the next one would be World of Diablo, that would be great. but contradicts Diablo 3 to an extent. Maybe its a Blizzard Clash MMO, with mixes of everything from Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo. Maybe its Wow2 =\