Sporting a vibrant 3D-graphics engine, StarCraft II will once again center on the clash between the protoss, terrans, and zerg, with each side deploying legions of veteran, upgraded, and new unit types. Unparalleled online play for StarCraft II will be available through a new version of Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment's world-renowned gaming service. Battle.net has been redesigned from the ground up to be the premier online gaming destination for Blizzard gamers, with several enhancements and new features, such as voice communication, cloud file storage, leagues and ladders, achievements, stat-tracking, and more.

The solo campaign for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty will continue the epic saga where it left off in StarCraft: Brood War. The story line chronicles the exploits of marshal-turned-rebel-leader Jim Raynor and features both familiar faces and new heroes. Players will be able to tailor the experience, choosing their own mission path and selecting technology and research upgrades to suit their playing style throughout the 29-mission campaign. Several challenge-mode mini-games will also be included, with focused goals designed to ease players into the basics of multiplayer strategies.

Introducing Zeratul

• The Dark Prelate Returns – The renowned psionic warrior and assassin Zeratul has witnessed darkness like no other being in the galaxy. Though he’s haunted by demons, the Dark Prelate is honorable and loyal to a fault. Armed with his lethal warp blade and ability to cloak, Zeratul returns as a Co-op Commander to control the battlefield from the shadows.
• Harness Xel’Naga Technology – As a follower of the xel’naga, Zeratul is able to wield their ancient, powerful technology to make himself and his xel’naga-based army stronger, while also granting his units new, exotic abilities. Always aiming for quality over quantity, he leads his followers—a small group of elite protoss warriors—into battle.

• The Xenoarchaeologist – As a Co-op Commander, Zeratul uses his Prophecy Vision to uncover powerful hidden xel’naga artifacts on the map. Each artifact Zeratul uncovers upgrades him in various ways:
  • A choice of three new top bar abilities
  • Upgrades the Legendary Legion top bar ability, allowing Zeratul to call in units from other protoss factions
  • Upgrades units and structures with new abilities, as well as weapon, armor, and shield upgrades
  • Boost Zeratul's stats
• Choose Your Avatar – After finding all the hidden xel’naga artifacts, Zeratul is granted the privilege to control one of two Ultimate Xel’Naga Constructs, each embodying one of the pinnacles of xel’naga ideology: Purity of Form and Purity of Essence.
  • Avatar of Form – The embodiment of psionic potential, this construct overwhelms enemies with vast psionic power and overcharged abilities.
  • Avatar of Essence – The embodiment of evolutionary potential, this construct grants the power to accelerate—or reverse—the evolution of the units around the construct. Nearby friendly units benefit by continuously evolving, getting more powerful over time. Enemy units fare far worse, as the player can transform all enemy units in a large area around the Avatar into a lower evolutionary form, weakening them significantly.

War Chest Comes To Twitch

War Chest, StarCraft II’s seasonal program that gives players a way to unlock an arsenal of in-game extras while supporting StarCraft II esports, is back with all-new rewards with War Chest 4! Additionally, for the first-time ever, War Chest will integrate directly with social video service Twitch to reward players for watching StarCraft II on the platform. Players who watch participating StarCraft II streams on Twitch during War Chest 4 will earn XP towards unlocking rewards, just as they do for playing the game.

War Chest 4 rewards are themed after Terran Special Forces, Simulant Zerg, and Forged Protoss, and they include in-game player portraits, sprays, emoticons, banners, and—for the first time—building skins.

Players can purchase access to War Chest 4 for $9.99 (USD) per race or $24.99 (USD) for all three races. 25% of the proceeds will fund 2019 StarCraft esports. War Chest 4 kicks off December 18, so stay tuned for more details!

War Chest 3 increased the prize pool for the 2018 WCS Global Finals at BlizzCon by $200,000, bringing the total prize pool to $700,000—tied with the highest prize pool ever for a StarCraft II esports event.

Features:

• Fast-paced, hard-hitting, tightly balanced competitive real-time strategy gameplay that recaptures and improves on the magic of the original game
• Three completely distinct races: Protoss, Terran, and Zerg
• New units and gameplay mechanics further distinguish each race
• Groundbreaking single-player campaign
• Vibrant new 3D-graphics engine with support for dazzling visual effects and massive unit and army sizes
• Full multiplayer support, with new competitive features and matchmaking utilities available through Battle.net
• Full map-making and scripting tools to give players incredible freedom in customizing and personalizing their gameplay experience