Nexon might take over the development of a new StarCraft game.

Placing the future of one of the most esteemed eSports franchises in the hands of an experienced developer with a strong presence in the Asian market could provide the competitive scene with the renewed energy it needs, overcoming the extended neglect from the original creator. Nexon, a South Korean gaming giant, is reportedly on the verge of finalizing a licensing deal with Blizzard to helm the development of the next title in the StarCraft series.

According to information published by the South Korean newspaper Chosun and echoed on the ResetEra forum, an industry insider has revealed that the terms of the contract between the two companies are in the final stages of consolidation.

The partnership's confirmation would pave the way for Nexon to work on a direct sequel to the franchise, though there are still questions about whether the project will be a StarCraft 3 focused on real-time strategy or a spinoff of the brand.

Choosing a South Korean studio makes sense from both a cultural and commercial perspective, given that StarCraft and StarCraft 2 remain among the most played titles in South Korea's PC rooms (PC bangs), a country that helped lay the foundation for modern eSports.

Despite the RTS genre's tradition, the project's direction remains uncertain behind the scenes.

Reports released earlier this year suggested that Blizzard has been collaborating with Nexon on creating a shooter set in the StarCraft universe.

Adding to the fans' confusion, parallel rumors suggest that Blizzard itself is internally leading a shooter project based on the same intellectual property, under the leadership of Dan Hay, former director of the Far Cry franchise.

Official details on the series' future are expected to be unveiled during BlizzCon, scheduled for September 12 and 13.

Suspicions about new developments gained momentum after StarCraft 2 received an unexpected balance update in June, breaking a six-year hiatus without active support from the producer.

Waiting a few days until the live event is the only way to understand the true scope of this commercial partnership.

Entrusting production to those who live the competitive culture of StarCraft daily in South Korea is a wise decision that could revitalize the franchise's name on a global scale. On the other hand, Blizzard's lack of clarity regarding the game's genre and the overlap of parallel projects demonstrate a troubling disorientation within the company, which seems unsure of the direction to take with one of the most important catalogues in video game history.