The original StarCraft is getting remastered

Blizzard has announced plans to revisit pioneering 1998 strategy title StarCraft.

StarCraft: Remastered is described as a reverently crafted modernisation” of the classic title, and will boast 4K graphics.

Also included will be expansion Brood War and all the trappings you’d expect from a modern title, including online matchmaking and a ladder ranking system. It will also fully integrate with Blizzard’s online network (which recently shed the Battle.net name) as well as cloud saves, custom maps and replays.

There will be additional language support, too.

Nonetheless, Blizzard promises that the original gameplay will be preserved and be instantly familiar to veterans.

StarCraft is a pure distillation of Blizzard’s DNA – its story, its balance, and all the little details reflect our long-running commitment to epic entertainment, and it’s been a staple in competitive gaming and eSports for almost 20 years,” Blizzard CEO and co-founder Mike Morhaime said.

With StarCraft: Remastered, we’re modernising the original game’s visuals, audio, and online support to ensure that players can enjoy StarCraft for another 20 years and beyond.”

StarCraft: Remastered is due out on PC and Mac some time this summer.

In addition, Blizzard has said that it will later this week release a new update for the original Brood War that will bring a host of modern additions to the game. As well an increased compatibility with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, it will also add anti-cheat tech, an observer mode and bug fixes. Furthermore, StarCraft Anthology, which includes the original game and the Brood War expansion, will be made free to download and play.