What I really think about Blizzard's new IP

Blizzard has developed IP's but they've never really created their own in recent memory. Warcraft was similar to Warhammer, Starcraft similar to Warhammer 40k, and Diablo was mostly developed before Blizzard North became Blizzard North.

Obviously Blizzard has developed the Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo universes pretty thoroughly, but we haven't seen a really original Bliz IP in quite a while and I'm pretty curious about what they'll do.

To wonder what Blizzard will create means wondering why they are creating a new IP in the first place.

It seems likely that the gameplay is driving the need for a new IP. If you were making a strategy MMO you could base it on Starcraft. If you were making an action MMO you could base it on Diablo. Or Starcraft. In fact, almost any recognizable genre on the MMO plane -- from space sim, to shooting, to strategy, or to a new RPG -- could be done pretty well with an existing property. This would save a ton of work developing a world and develop instant enthusiasm for the game. But Blizzard isn't going that way.

What kinds of games would require a brand new IP? A game targeted at kids would need a new IP. There are too many disturbing things in the existing IP's to paper over.

There is certainly no analog for a collectible game in the Blizzard universes. Maybe they want to go the Free 2 Play route. Maybe they want to make a collectible game for kids.

Or perhaps they are just sick of the same IP's, or maybe they want a fourth IP to exploit (I use exploit in a good way).

What worries me a little is I only accept two "good" fantasy/sf settings : space sci-fi and steampunk fantasy. Blizzard has already done both of those. So what do they need from a new IP?

I will make two predictions about Blizzard's IP : first that people will be generally underwhelmed by the initial announcement, and then gradually warm to the thing, whatever it may be.