Blizzard Entertainment® Showcases Latest Version Of StarCraft: Ghost™ At BlizzCon™
Blizzard reveals new playable Zerg race and never-before-seen features at its inaugural player convention
ANAHEIM, Calif. - October 28, 2005 - Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today premiered the latest version of its upcoming tactical-action console game, StarCraft: GhostTM, at the company's first-ever gaming convention, BlizzConTM. Show attendees saw the most recent updates to the game's single-player campaign and were given an exclusive look at the newly designed multiplayer scenario called "Invasion." Also unveiled at BlizzCon were four new playable Zerg units for StarCraft: Ghost multiplayer games: the Zergling, Hydralisk, Infested Marine, and Mutalisk.
"Over the past few months we've focused on further developing StarCraft: Ghost's single-player campaign while also expanding the game's multiplayer features," stated Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "BlizzCon attendees will be the first to see everything we've added, and we're excited to hear their thoughts on all of the new content."
New to StarCraft: Ghost at BlizzCon are even bigger multiplayer battles, as the game now allows up to 16 players to each take on the role of one of eight different playable units and operate a number of powerful vehicles from the StarCraft universe. In the new Invasion scenario, players seize strategic points on a map to gain access to valuable resources, which in turn help them destroy their enemy's base and win the game. Upon release, StarCraft: Ghost will support multiplayer matches for Xbox® players on Xbox LiveTM and for Playstation® 2 owners over Battle.net®, allowing gamers from around the world to compete in multiple settings from the StarCraft® universe.
StarCraft: Ghost will feature highly stylized character models, over-the-top special effects, and immersive 3D environments that reward creative exploration. The game's deeply evolving story line and unique blend of stealth and action-based gameplay will take full advantage of Blizzard's StarCraft universe and refine the epic experience to the level of the individual soldier. The game is currently scheduled for release in 2006 for Xbox® and Playstation® 2.
About the StarCraft series
Since its debut in 1998, the #1-selling StarCraft series* has won industry acclaim and has shattered sales records worldwide with over nine million copies sold**. Blizzard continued the series with the critically acclaimed StarCraft: Brood WarTM, which won multiple "Expansion Pack of the Year" awards and is still considered by many critics to be one of the best add-on products to date.
About Blizzard Entertainment
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®, the Warcraft®, StarCraft, and Diablo® series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Vivendi Universal Games, is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard's track record includes nine #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's free Internet gaming service, Battle.net®, reigns as the largest in the world, with millions of active users.
*NPD Intellect/PC Data games category monthly sales April-September 1998
**Based on EDI sell-through, internal company estimates, and reports from key retail accounts around the world