as blizzard sunsets starcraft ii, some of its key creators raise cash for a new gaming studio
Despite Blizzard ceasing further development on its StarCraft II title, almost ten years following its initial release, investors in the gaming industry are providing capital for a fresh project spearheaded by prominent individuals involved in the original game’s creation.
Tim Morten, previously the production director for StarCraft II, and Tim Campbell, who served as the lead campaign designer for WarCraft III, have established a new studio alongside several former Blizzard team members with the goal of expanding the reach of real-time strategy games.
This new venture, named Frost Giant Studios, has secured $4.7 million in seed funding from Bitkraft Ventures, an investment firm specializing in gaming and synthetic media. Additional funding was provided by 1 Up Ventures, GC Tracker, Riot Games, and Griffin Gaming Partners, as announced by the company.
Scott Rupp, Founding General Partner at Bitkraft Ventures, stated, “Frost Giant Studios aims to introduce this highly-regarded genre to a wider player base.” He continued, “We are thrilled to support some of the most seasoned professionals in real-time strategy game development as they create a game that will ensure the continued success of the RTS genre while remaining faithful to the fundamental appeal of RTS gameplay.”
Leveraging their decade of experience in developing StarCraft II, Frost Giant Studios is concentrating on enhancing gameplay, improving accessibility, and fostering greater collaboration among players.
Their approach involves integrating successful features from the battle royale genre into real-time strategy games, with a focus on user-friendliness and opportunities for competitive play within the esports landscape.
“The real-time strategy community is remarkably dedicated, and they merit not only an exceptional new game but also one that is easily shared with their friends. Developing a suitable successor will require time, but we are incredibly enthusiastic and thankful to be advancing real-time strategy at Frost Giant Studios,” explained Tim Morten, CEO of Frost Giant Studios.