Speculating About Blizzard's Next MMO
Posted by 
Juggynaut on Thursday, May 14, 2009 - 36 Comments Tags: Zarhym, battle chess, blizzard, diablo, lost vikings, mmo, rock n' roll racing, starcraft, warcraft
Juggynaut on Thursday, May 14, 2009 - 36 Comments Tags: Zarhym, battle chess, blizzard, diablo, lost vikings, mmo, rock n' roll racing, starcraft, warcraft 
Kotaku just came to the realization via Official Blue Post (tm) that one of Blizzard's projects, their unnamed next-gen MMO, is an entirely new franchise, which means it's not Starcraft, it's not Warcraft, it's not Diablo, it's not Lost Vikings, it's not Rock n' Roll Racing, and most disappointingly it's not Battle Chess.
Zarhym says, in response to a poster wondering why Blizzard hasn't started advertising for their new MMO:
We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it's a shell of a game thus far. We've already stated it'll be a brand new franchise, which means the lore, art, and game play are being developed entirely from scratch. It's an overwhelming process, but a process through which we excel. Our track record supports this.
So, they're working on all new stuff. They have two fantasy titles releasing along with a Sci-Fi future title, so what's next? Where will their new MMO end up being set? The wild west? An apocalyptic future? A realistic contemporary world? Ancient Egypt? A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away? Canada?
I'm thinking none of the above, because Blizzard has a way of surprising us all. Nevertheless, it may end up being a battle between two Blizzard MMOs at the top, with some players unable to tear themselves away from WoW, but many making the transition to their new property. What do you think? Are you getting tired of the Fantasy MMO? Are you looking forward to Blizzard's new title? Where do you want to see it set, and what do you want it to include? How many question marks fit in one post?
Reader Comments (36)
first!!!!!!
I still think it will be some kinda fantasy based game. Can't wait for more info on it though. I was kinda hoping for a Diablo MMO but doesn't look like that is the plan.
I'm extremely interested in what they come out with. Anything short of a new IP though won't make me switch. With so much time invested in WoW I can't afford to quit.
Well...I guess it would be pretty cool a new fantasy MMO, but the market is saturated with these, as Fantasy MMOs are the most common out there. So, the one that makes more sense may be a contemporary MMO, something like a huge city or country, and you're just a tiny person trying to survive by any means necessary. But that wouldn't match with the blue post, saying that it has lore, in other words, you don't make the lore, they do. So, I would suggest a futuristic MMO. Maybe an apocalyptic world, the earth corrupted by something...this game will not be out very soon, but I'm looking forward to see it top my expectatives.
ok
I want a solid SciFi MMORPG (RIP Tabula Rasa), but I don't know why they would do a new IP instead of StarCraft. StarCraft's universe seems easily extendable to me.
Here's hoping that if we get both games, Blizz will give us a discount combined montly fee, rather than two seperate ones.
well u are up to 13 ?'s there juggy.
As for me, not sure what I will do. It is cool that they are starting from scratch, but I really do enjoy WoW. There is a ton left for me to do and things I want to do before I deside to /quitWoW. Not sure what I will do with that extra $14.95 a month. That and whenever the new MMO would come out I am sure I will need a new PC to run the damn thing.
Guess we'll just have to wait for a while before we find anything out since there was a post that they just don't have much to give.
I dunno...I like that Canada idea, Juggy. I live in the US, but I've heard tales of this mythical land of "Canada" where they have lots of snow, maple syrup, hockey, and healthcare. So would it have two factions of English-speaking vs French-speaking?
Sounds like a good idea to me!
I hope Ice Road Trucking is a profession.
I wonder what storyline will this new MMO have.
Canada!?! Good one.
I'm looking forward to something new personally, I'm awaiting Diablo 3 however my computer isn't up to date and I'll most likely need to buy some new hardware asap.
Blizzard has been pretty good with lore/storylines/background and the depth of which they go into when creating something. I hope they continue and blow me away again :D!
Oh no someone found out its gonna be a Canad MMO where you play as a mountie
Noone else must be able to find out about this
<..>
If it is called LIFE, and it resembles Second Life, I'll LOL from the irony.
Battletoads MMO ftw
It's been said that Blizzard took the traditional MMO style gameplay and perfected it with WoW. I believe this is mostly true. I also believe that in order to keep that traditional aspect of gameplay, the developers have had to hold back on implementing new features.
Now since the developers are constantly developing new ideas for WoW, I'm sure many get rejected for being too radically different from the Warcraft universe. It makes sense to me that if they have all the equipement, knowledge and experience with running the most successful MMO ever, than they would take those radical ideas and create a new radical style of MMO game.
I'm sure they'll create an interesting setting, they always do, but the gameplay is what I'm most interested in learning about.
My guess is that the release date for this game would be around the 2015 mark. By then, World Of Warcraft would most likely be dead anyway, so i don't think Blizzard would be undercutting its own market with this MMO.
By the time this MMO is ready, Blizzard would have buried WoW.
Well whatever it is, I hope it's released for the consoles also.
@ Patrick D
Dont forget the beer!
I hope its a fps mmo they dont have many of those these days
omg wtb battlechess
loling @ Canada xD
i dont want anything sci-fi(sci-fi sucks :P), Id love something ancient
Obviously Canada
Darn...no Canada. I've always wished for game that takes place in Canada.
Well some form of fantasy is a strong bet. Sci-fi based games have a rough go of it. In fact the only one I can think of thats not beta, or dead is Eve Online.
Social games are not making the big bucks so it would have to be something different.
I wouldnt mind a first person shooter like Sony's planetside. Planetside was a fun game till they pulled all the development dollars. 200 people fighting in a single area was awesome.
Im torn. KOTOR Online is gonna be awesome but once we have more info on this mmo i may be swayed to drop WoW. /gasp
it may have something to do with a zombie apocalypse, or maybe something like counterstrike or call of duty 4, with more of a modern warfare deal.