StarCraft 2 beta coming in '09, on 'next-generation' Battle.net

by Christopher Grant { Feb 11th 2009 at 11:45PM }

It's been over a decade since the original release but if you were betting on an aught nine release for StarCraft 2 (or one of the StarCraft 2s, as the case may be), you may only be half-right. While he wouldn't confirm what its "one frontline" release for 2009 will be (it's a grudge match between Diablo 3 and StarCraft 2), Blizzard's Paul Sams did say that a StarCraft 2 beta test would be "coming up in the months ahead" running on top of a "basic version" of a "new Battle.net architecture."

Basic version? Maybe he just meant "free version." Regardless, Sams elaborated, "Over time, we'll be adding features to deliver a second-generation Battle.net experience." With everything Blizzard seemingly gathering under the Battle.net banner, we're eager to see what the guys in Irvine are cooking up.

Gallery: Starcraft II

Tags: Activision-Blizzard, Battle.net, Battle.net-2.0, Blizzard, PC, StarCraft-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Apollo @ Feb 11th 2009 11:51PM

Will I need additional pylons to play the beta?

Morisato @ Feb 11th 2009 11:57PM

No... just bawls

343 Guilty Fart @ Feb 11th 2009 11:58PM

Hooray!

heyo007 @ Feb 12th 2009 12:03AM

That's it. I'm going to blizzcon this year. I have a feeling that may be their venue for releasing beta passes.
Man, I cannot wait for, either, Starcraft 2 or Diablo III. Just release one of 'em already. I don't care which.

Leejin @ Feb 12th 2009 1:46PM

Blizzard doesn't have a Blizcon every year. Makes me glad I went to 08 and got a key for the SC2 Beta.

MWilson @ Feb 12th 2009 3:00PM

The beta keys were given out Oct 08' at Blizzcon. You missed it.

GIVEMEREPLAY @ Feb 12th 2009 5:26PM

I'm sorry but if Blizzard continues to push back SC2 it is just going to end up looking very outdated by the time it arrives, much less by the time they push out the other two campaigns. I think we may find ourselves disappointed with SC2.

motang @ Feb 12th 2009 12:37AM

Awesome!

Amoveo @ Feb 12th 2009 12:41AM

[Obligatory reference to obsessive koreans]

JM @ Feb 12th 2009 1:06AM

So ready for this... Jesus it's been 10 years already...

Discotheque @ Feb 12th 2009 1:33AM

Oh God yes!

West @ Feb 12th 2009 2:03AM

Nice FIREFLY reference Grant. Oh yes, I caught it.

Ghen @ Feb 12th 2009 6:59AM

I wonder if Activision games like Guitar Hero for PC should go under the battle.net banner too.

Cattchi @ Feb 12th 2009 9:57AM

Futureshop Canada has published marketing materials for SC2 indicating a May 31 2009 release. No mention of Diablo 3 anywhere yet. So most likely we'll see the release of Starcraft 2 first.

Info on the Starcraft 2 release date was here: http://www.linuxlookup.com/2009/feb/03/starcraft_2_to_be_released_may_31_2009

Regarding the Blizzcon/beta pass, that already happened in 2008.