Blizzard games that were never made: Starcraft MMO and Crossworlds | Jeff Kaplan and Lex Fridman

Quick Overview

The discussion between Jeff Kaplan and Lex Fridman reveals that Blizzard had two major game concepts, a StarCraft MMO and a Crossworlds project, which were ultimately shelved because they were too ambitious for the available time and scale, leading to a shift in focus toward more manageable projects like Overwatch.

Key Points: Blizzard considered a massive StarCraft MMO and a separate 'Crossworlds' game, both of which were ultimately deemed too large in scope. The team initially allocated six weeks for pitching the StarCraft MMO, but the scope ultimately demanded an unrealistic 5-10 years of development. The vision for StarCraft MMO involved a gritty, realistic tone, contrasting with the more fantasy-driven World of Warcraft, focusing on elements like spaceports, alien encounters, and smugglers. Jeff Kaplan revealed that the team decided against the ambitious scope, realizing they could not deliver the required experience within a feasible timeframe, leading to the cancellation of both projects. The team ultimately decided to create the game 'Overwatch' because it was a more manageable scope, allowing them to focus on a tighter vision. Kaplan expressed strong admiration for designer Chris Metzen's vision for the StarCraft universe, calling his art 'second to none'. The decision to pivot away from massive MMOs was partly influenced by the realization that the scope of work, including content updates like new classes or raid bosses, was too vast for the team's timeline.

Context: This segment features an interview between Lex Fridman and Jeff Kaplan, a prominent figure in game development, known for his work at Blizzard Entertainment, particularly on titles like World of Warcraft and Overwatch. The discussion centers on Blizzard's ambitious, unreleased game concepts, specifically a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) set in the StarCraft universe and another project called 'Crossworlds,' detailing the creative vision and the practical reasons why these massive projects were ultimately cancelled.