StarCraft is a science fiction media franchise made up of real-time strategy video games developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. The series has several games which carry the main story arc: StarCraft, its expansion pack StarCraft: Brood War, and the trilogy StarCraft II. In addition, the series incorporates media that include spin-off video games, tabletop games, novelizations, graphic novels, and other literature. A variety of toys have also been produced. Set in the 26th century, the series revolves around three species fighting for dominance in a distant part of the Milky Way galaxy: the Terrans, humans exiled from Earth who are adept at conforming to any situation; the Zerg, a race of insectoids obsessed with the pursuit of genetic perfection through the assimilation of other races; and the Protoss, a humanoid species with advanced technology and psionic abilities attempting to preserve from the Zerg both their civilization and strict philosophical way of living.

Conceived by Chris Metzen and James Phinney, the StarCraft series has been a commercial and critical success. The first game, StarCraft, is regarded as being highly influential in the real-time strategy genre. Combined with its official expansion, Brood War, over 10 million copies of StarCraft have been sold globally. StarCraft remains one of the most popular online games in the world; Blizzard Entertainment reported an 800 percent increase in Battle.net service usage after the game's release in 1998. The original StarCraft and its expansion are particularly popular in South Korea, where a successful eSports scene has been established.

Games

Video games Game Release date North America PAL region StarCraft 31 March 1998 31 March 1998 Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, and released for Microsoft Windows Set real-time strategy standards and established a successful electronic sports scene; particularly popular in South Korea Ported to Mac OS in March 1999 StarCraft: Insurrection 31 July 1998 31 July 1998 Authorized add-on for StarCraft, developed by Aztech New Media Side story based around a minor planet in the series' backstory StarCraft: Retribution Late 1998 Late 1998 Authorized add-on for StarCraft, developed by Stardock and published by WizardWorks Side story set around the retrieval of a powerful and ancient artifact StarCraft: Brood War 30 November 1998 March 1999 Official expansion pack to StarCraft, developed by Blizzard Entertainment and Saffire and released for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS Game events continue from directly after the original game Enhanced the gameplay balance of StarCraft; is used as the base for electronic sports with StarCraft StarCraft 64 13 June 2000 16 June 2000 Nintendo 64 version of StarCraft and Brood War, ported by Mass Media Interactive Entertainment Includes additional secret mission expanding on the character of Alexei Stukov StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty July 27, 2010 July 27, 2010 Developed by Blizzard Entertainment for Windows and Mac OS X Continues story from four years after Brood War Intended as a first part of trilogy, and the title will be focusing on the story of Terrans StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm March 12, 2013 March 12, 2013 Developed by Blizzard Entertainment for Windows and Mac OS X Intended as a second part of trilogy, and will be the title focusing on the story of Zerg StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void November 10, 2015 November 10, 2015 Being developed by Blizzard Entertainment for Windows and Mac OS X Intended as a third part of trilogy, and will be the title focusing on the story of Protoss StarCraft: Ghost Cancelled Cancelled Stealth-action game developed by Blizzard Entertainment, previously by Nihilistic Software and Swingin' Ape Studios Spin-off console title focusing on new character of Nova Noted for lengthy development, considered vaporware; development on the game was cancelled

Other games Game Release date Media type StarCraft Adventures July 2000 Role-playing game Tabletop game based on the Alternity game system StarCraft: The Board Game October 2007 Board game Tabletop game for two to six players, produced by Fantasy Flight Games Winner of "Best Board Game" at the 2008 Origins Game Fair

Soundtracks Title Release date Length Label StarCraft: Game Music Vol. 1 January 2000 56:49 Net Vision Entertainment Composed predominantly of tracks inspired by StarCraft and produced by South Korean DJs; a small number of original game tracks composed by Glenn Stafford, Derek Duke, Jason Hayes and Tracy W. Bush were included Discontinued, previously sold through Blizzard Entertainment's online store StarCraft Original Soundtrack 10 August 2008 63:34 Azeroth Music Comprises tracks composed by Glen Stafford, Derek Duke, Jason Hayes and Tracy W. Bush for in-game themes and cut scenes Released online through iTunes

Printed media Title Release date ISBN Media type StarCraft: Revelations 29 March 1999 — Short story Written by Chris Metzen and Sam Moore; published in Amazing Stories magazine Accompanying artwork art by Samwise Didier featured on the cover of Amazing Stories StarCraft: Hybrid Second quarter of 2000 — Short story Written by Micky Neilson and published in Amazing Stories magazine Accompanied by artwork by Samwise Didier StarCraft: Uprising 18 December 2000 Novelization Written by Micky Neilson and published by Simon & Schuster, originally only available as an e-book Prequel to StarCraft, focusing on the origins of Sarah Kerrigan StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade 1 March 2001 Novelization Written by Jeff Grubb and published by Simon & Schuster Adaptation of the first campaign in StarCraft StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga 1 July 2001 Novelization Written by Gabriel Mesta and published by Simon & Schuster Set between StarCraft and Brood War, focusing on the discovery of Xel'Naga artifacts StarCraft: Speed of Darkness 1 June 2002 Novelization Written by Tracy Hickman and published by Simon & Schuster Side story set in the first campaign in StarCraft, focusing on the lives of individual Confederate marines StarCraft: Queen of Blades 1 June 2006 Novelization Written by Aaron S. Rosenberg and published by Simon & Schuster Adaptation of the second campaign in StarCraft StarCraft Ghost: Nova 28 November 2006 Novelization Written by Keith R.A. DeCandido and published by Simon & Schuster Set during the first campaign in StarCraft, focuses on the origins of Nova StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #1: Firstborn 22 May 2007 Novelization Written by Christie Golden and published by Simon & Schuster Prequel to StarCraft II, focusing on excavation of Xel'Naga artifacts and Protoss history The StarCraft Archive 13 November 2007 Anthology Collection of early StarCraft novels, published by Simon & Schuster Consists of Uprising, Liberty's Crusade, Shadow of the Xel'Naga and Speed of Darkness StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #2: Shadow Hunters 27 November 2007 Novelization Written by Christie Golden and published by Simon & Schuster Prequel to StarCraft II, continuation of storyline begun in Firstborn StarCraft: Frontline August 2008 Graphic novel Written by Richard A. Knaak and published by Tokyopop An anthology of short stories set before StarCraft II exploring the viewpoints of the three main species StarCraft: I, Mengsk 30 December 2008 Novelization Written by Graham McNeill and published by Simon & Schuster Focuses on the origins of characters in the Mengsk family: Angus Mengsk, Arcturus Mengsk and Valerian Mengsk StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #3: Twilight 30 June 2009 Novelization Written by Christie Golden and published by Simon & Schuster Prequel to StarCraft II, concludes the story arc of The Dark Templar Saga StarCraft: Ghost Academy 1 February 2010 Graphic novel Written by Keith R.A. DeCandido with art by Fernando Heinz Furukawa and published by Tokyopop David Gerrold authored Spanish version Focuses on the training of Nova as an espionage agent Two sequential volumes published in February 2010 and March 2011 StarCraft Ghost: Spectres 27 September 2011 Novelization Written by Nate Kenyon and published by the Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster Sequel to StarCraft Ghost: NovaStarCraft: Evolution8 November 2016Novelization Written by Timothy Zahn Published by Del Rey Audiobook narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant and published by Random House AudioHeaven's Devil's (Starcraft II #1)6 April 2010Novelization Written by William C. Dietz Published by Gallery Books AudiobookDevil's Due (Starcraft II #2)12 April 2011Novelization Written by Christie Golden Published by Gallery AudiobookFlashpoint (Starcraft II #3)6 November 2012Novelization Written by Christie Golden Published by Simon & Schuster Audiobook

Other media Title Release date Media type StarCraft Battle Chest 31 December 1999 Video game compilation Compilation of StarCraft and Brood War for Windows and Mac OS, along with the official strategy guides by Prima Games for the two games StarCraft Cinematics DVD First quarter of 2001 Cinematic cut scene collection Collector's DVD containing high quality versions of the cut scenes used in StarCraft and Brood War, along with audio commentary and concept art Heroes of the Storm 2 June 2015 Video game Developed by Blizzard Entertainment for Windows and Mac OS X The game features over 15 characters from the StarCraft universe as playable heroes, as well as two Starcraft-themed battlegrounds: Braxis Holdout and Warhead Junction.

References

External links Official StarCraft series website