Continuing the StarCraft Legacy... 카겜's New RTS 'Stormgate' Ready for Launch

'Stormgate' Created by Former Blizzard Developers
The Story of '3 Races' Like StarCraft
Published by Kakao Games... "Developing as eSports"

Will the StarCraft craze be revived? Kakao Games has expressed its ambition to bring a new wave to the real-time strategy simulation (RTS) genre with its new title, "Stormgate."

Han Sang-woo, CEO of Kakao Games, said at a joint media interview held on the 18th at Gangnam Big Space Studio, "We aim to add a new driving force to our portfolio with Stormgate," adding, "The entire development team is sincerely committed to creating a global RTS that anyone can easily access."

Han stated, "As PC and console games continue to succeed globally, including in Korea, the number of users seeking fresh fun and high-quality gameplay experiences is increasing," and added, "In response, we will focus on the essential fun of the game. We will work closely and prepare thoroughly for stable and successful service."

Stormgate is an RTS game developed by the U.S.-based Frost Giant Studios and will be published domestically by Kakao Games. Pre-registration began on the 10th, and early access will be available on the 31st of next month for pre-purchasers. From August 14, it will be free to play on Steam.

Frost Giant Studios is a North American-based game company. It was founded in 2020 by Tim Morten, former production director of StarCraft 2, and Tim Campbell, former lead campaign designer of Warcraft 3. They are developing Stormgate based on their extensive RTS game development experience.

Stormgate depicts the conflict among three factions set on a future Earth. The story involves the demonic legion "Infernal," which invaded Earth through an otherworldly portal; humanity "Vanguard," who survived the demonic invasion; and the angelic-themed faction "Celestial," which opposes the Infernal. Players can choose one of the three factions to enjoy a 3-player cooperative mode against AI, play campaigns with friends, or engage in 1v1 or 3v3 battle modes.

CEO Tim Morten said, "After founding Frost Giant, we focused solely on technology development for a year to maintain authentic RTS gameplay. Our goal is to develop the fastest-response engine among RTS games and enable global matchmaking through worldwide networks," adding, "We are preparing content so players can continuously enjoy new stories without waiting years for expansions."

The downside of the RTS genre is its high entry barrier for beginners. To address this, Frost Giant Studios has implemented features that allow quick adaptation from novices to experts. CEO Morten explained, "There is a tutorial specially designed to respond to each user," and "We have incorporated a system called 'Buddy Bot' for new entrants." The 'Buddy Bot' system assists players unfamiliar with the game by helping with growth builds. Additionally, a quick macro system will be introduced to lower the game's entry barrier.

The business model (BM) is designed to allow user choice. The game is free to play, with paid content such as skins, heroes, and cooperative modes available for purchase. CEO Morten said, "We wanted to leave the BM to the user's autonomous decision. Purchases can vary depending on how users enjoy the game." He emphasized, "There will never be pay to win. Paid content will not affect the game's competitiveness."

They also intend to expand the fan base through the map editor, one of the popular features in RTS games. Kara LaFosse, head of business at Frost Giant Studios, emphasized, "Modding brings new developments, new modes, and new maps that sustain and invigorate RTS games," adding, "We recognize how important the map editor is and are developing it accordingly."

Kakao Games plans to actively market Stormgate through its "eSportsification." Starting with the official service launch in August, they will hold events for former StarCraft pro players and broadcasters from AfreecaTV's "Star University." Next year, the Korean league will be divided into "Spring" and "Summer" seasons, and in August 2025, a "World Championship" will be held. Competitions will be hosted in six regions, including Korea, North America, Europe, and China.

Kim Sang-gu, head of Kakao Games' business division, said, "This year, we will expand the user base through grassroots tournaments and plan to hold regular leagues starting next year," adding, "We will utilize the collaborative PC bangs we have built over the years to host many tournaments."

Kim also stated, "Based on our domestic service experience with games like Path of Exile (POE), we will strive to approach game users in a familiar way. We are also considering Korean voice actor recordings," and added, "Since Korean RTS users have very high standards, we will accept their feedback and communicate actively."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.