StarCraft II, developed by Blizzard Entertainment, is a real-time strategy game that has become one of the most popular and enduring esports titles. Since its release in 2010, it has maintained a significant presence in the competitive gaming scene, attracting top players and massive audiences worldwide.

StarCraft II is a military science fiction video game and a sequel to the first (1998) StarCraft video game. It is set in a fictional future, where various fictional races battle for dominance.

Professional competitive play of StartCraft II commenced soon after the game´s release in 2010. This was not surprising, as it´s predecessor StartCraft was already immensely important in the esport world.

In 2016-2019, the world of StarCraft II competitions was largely centred around the Global StarCraft II League in South Korea and the World Championship Series Circuit in the rest of the world. All Blizzard-sanctioned events took place under the StartCraft II World Championship Series (WCS) banner. In 2020, Blizzard changed the format of the WCS as they entered into a 3-year-long partnership with the esport organizers DreamHack and ESL.

Since 2017, the StarCraft II multi-player mode and co-op mode has been free-to-play.

The Game

• Genre: Real-Time Strategy (RTS)
• Release Date: July 27, 2010
• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Game Structure: Players control one of three distinct races – Terran, Zerg, or Protoss – each with unique units, buildings, and abilities. The goal is to gather resources, build an army, and defeat the opponent by destroying their base.

Gameplay and Strategy

StarCraft II’s competitive scene is known for its depth and complexity, requiring players to master various skills, including:

• Macro Management: Efficiently managing resources and production to build a powerful army.
• Micro Management: Controlling individual units with precision to maximize their effectiveness in battle.
• Strategy and Tactics: Developing and executing game plans to outmaneuver and outsmart opponents. Adaptability: Adjusting strategies based on the opponent’s actions and game developments.

Major Tournaments and Leagues

1. Global StarCraft II League (GSL)
   • Location: South Korea
   • Description: One of the most prestigious SC2 tournaments, attracting top Korean and international players.
2. World Championship Series (WCS)
   • Description: Previously the primary global tournament series for SC2, with regional events culminating in the WCS Global Finals at BlizzCon.
3. Intel Extreme Masters (IEM)
   • Description: A series of global tournaments featuring SC2 among other esports titles, known for its high level of competition.
4. DreamHack
   • Description: A major esports festival that includes SC2 tournaments, drawing large crowds and top-tier players.
5. ESL Pro Tour
   • Description: Currently the primary circuit for SC2, incorporating major events like IEM and DreamHack into a unified competitive structure.

History

Background

The predecessor StarCraft: Brood War was a very successful game in the field of esport and it had its own ranking system. It grew especially big in South Korea where it was often referred to as “the nations pastime”, and not just one but two South Korean tv-channels were dedicated to professional StarCraft competitions. StartCraft was instrumental in bringing about the formation of the South Korean e-Sports Association (KeSPA) and establish a lot of esport infrastructure.

Early days of StarCraft II

After being launched, StartCraft II quickly grew into a popular esport game and attracted some of the largest prize pools in professional esport at the time. The first really large professional events for the game were organized by Major League Gaming and Intel Extrem Masters. Soon, the first professional league for StarCraft II was established in South Korea, organized by GOMTV and named Global StartCraft II League (GSL). It was eventually followed by leagues in other parts of the world, including the North American Star League (NASL).

From November 2010, StartCraft II was a permanent fixture of Dreamhack.

Peak

StarCraft’s popularity in the esport world peaking in late 2011 and continoued throughout the year 2012 and into 2013. During this period, it was the largest esport in the world – it was the most viewed, most sponsored, and most active of them all. In South Korea, all professional StarCraft teams transitioned into being StarCraft II teams.

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm was released in March 2013. It is an expansion pack to StartCraft II: Wings of Liberty and constitutes the second part of the StarCraft II trilogy.

Upon the release of Heart of the Swarm, the World Championship Series (WCS) transitioned into a league format. From now on, WCS points would determine the participants in WCS Global Finals, the biggest StarCraft II tournament of the year. This change resulted in fewer non-WCS events, and competitions outside South Korea became very focused on WCS point collecting. Before, the competitive circuits had been fairly decentralized, but this game to an end.

StarCraft II Warchest

StartCraft II Warchest was released in late 2017, featuring cosmetic rewards that could be unlocked. For each purchase, 25% of sales went into funding StarCraft II esport.

In 2018, new Warchests were launched for the IEM World Championship and BlizzCon, significanlty raising the prize pool for both.

Free-to-play

StarCraft II largely became free-to-play in November 2017, including the Wings of Liberty campaign, full Legacy of the Void multiplayer and co-op access, and the custom games section called the Arcade.

This helped boost interest in StartCraft II and the scene went through a bit of resurgence, as the player base broadend. Viewership went up; for some competition events by more than 100%.

The GSL vs. the World 2018 Tournament became the first GSL event to be won by someone who was not South Korean, as Joon “Serral” Sotala from Finland took home first price.

Prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics, StarCraft II was featured at an exhibition tournament at the Intel-sponsored IEM PyeongChang. The tournament was won by Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn from Canada.

Examples of well-known competitive players of Starcraft II

• Maru (Cho Sung Choo): A South Korean Terran player known for his innovative strategies and exceptional micro skills.
• Stats (Kim Dae Yeob): A South Korean Protoss player recognized for his consistent performance and strategic play.
• Serral (Joona Sotala): A Finnish player known for his dominance in international tournaments and often regarded as one of the best Zerg players in the world.
• Dark (Park Ryung Woo): A top-tier South Korean Zerg player known for his aggressive and adaptive playstyle.

Community and Broadcasting

• Streaming: Platforms like Twitch and YouTube have large StarCraft II communities where fans can watch live matches, tutorials, and commentary.
• Casters and Analysts: Personalities like Artosis, Tasteless, and Day provide insightful commentary and analysis, enhancing the viewing experience.
• Forums and Social Media: Communities on Reddit, Team Liquid, and other forums provide spaces for discussion, sharing strategies, and following tournament news.

Impact and Legacy

StarCraft II has significantly influenced the esports landscape:

• Professionalism: Helped establish standards for professional play, tournament organization, and player conduct.
• Innovation: Introduced new gameplay mechanics and balance changes that have influenced other RTS games.
• Cultural Impact: Popularized esports in South Korea and globally, contributing to the mainstream acceptance of competitive gaming.

Conclusion

StarCraft II remains a cornerstone of the esports world, celebrated for its strategic depth, competitive integrity, and dedicated community. Whether you’re a player aiming to compete at the highest level or a fan enjoying the thrill of top-tier matches, StarCraft II offers an enduring and dynamic esports experience.

Tips! StarCraft II is also available as a single-player game

StartCraft II is available both as a single-player and a multi-player game.

The StartCraft II single-player campaign is split into three installments; each focusing on a specific race. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (released in 2010), Heart of the Swarm (2013) and Legacy of the Void (2015). The single-player campaign pack StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops was released in 2016.