Blizzard is prepping a very busy weekend, with Blizzcon kicking off in LA from tomorrow. They’re expected to talk about all of their major franchises, specifically details around Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm and the card game I can’t stop playing, Hearthstone. It would be a surprise to hearing anything new on the WarCraft or Diablo fronts (at least anything out of the ordinary), although a recent job listing has pretty much sorted that out already.
Blizzard are hiring engineers to try and re-establish StarCraft I, Diablo II and WarCraft III to their former glory. The Senior Software Engineer listing mentions these three games specifically, along with the idea that all three will soon be seamlessly playable again on more modern hardware and software.
Evolving operating systems, hardware, and online services have made them more difficult to be experienced by their loyal followers or reaching a new generation.
The responsibilities for the job a re a little more intriguing though, as they hint at the possibility of something more than just software optimisation and reworking. Instead, they list requirements for the games to look as good as they play, as well fixes to their out-dated multiplayer mechanics.
- Make gameplay first again on modern operating systems.
- Create conditions for experiences that look as good as they play.
- Own implementation and curation of features new and old.
- Combat hacking to improve multiplayer.
- Diagnose and fix all the things: crashes, deadlocks, overflows, heap corruptions, etc.
That could mean that all three games aren’t simple port jobs, and that Blizzard might be looking to spruce them all up a little in the process. It would be a neat little bonus, but at the very least I expect all three games to crop back up for sale as soon as the job is complete. And if Blizzard isn’t planning on WarCraft 4 anytime soon, a working, modern copy of WarCraft III will have to do for now.
Last Updated: November 5, 2015
Rock789
November 5, 2015 at 12:37
If no Warcraft 4, I would LOVE a Warcraft III remaster!! Such an awesome game from back in the day – many a month lost to that game. 🙂
RinceThis
November 5, 2015 at 13:05
Pfffffft
Rock789
November 5, 2015 at 16:03
You trying to inflate that doll again? :p
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 5, 2015 at 13:11
If a Blizzard game needs a remaster, BLACKTHORNE is top of the list
VampyreSquirrel
November 5, 2015 at 15:23
^this!!!!!!
Johann
November 5, 2015 at 13:16
There is actually a group that is redoing the whole Warcraft III in the SC2 engine and what I’ve seen so far it looks pretty impressive.
Warcraft: Armies of Azeroth
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 5, 2015 at 13:35
I remember after WC3 there was an easter egg with the StarCraft characters in. And WC3 mods with them.
Oh joy!
Hammersteyn
November 5, 2015 at 12:58
Nostalgia. #1 Strategy
Wyzak
November 5, 2015 at 13:41
They’ll probably find some way to ruin it for me like always online or no downloads, but live streaming as you play, and only track-ball mice supported…
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 5, 2015 at 13:48
Hehehe @ track-ball
Mossel
November 5, 2015 at 15:06
StarCraft 1!!! O_O