Is Stormgate a Spiritual Successor to StarCraft II?

We all know how StarCraft II has become the most defining esports title in the RTS genre over the years, and it cannot be denied that SCII has set the bar for so many titles that have come and gone in its genre, but with Stormgate coming in as its so-called spiritual successor, does the new game actually have what it takes to be the next big thing in RTS esports?

Stormgate has been making some strides in the hype upon its release on demo and even creating a bigger base-craft formula that many RTS fans have been looking for, it eerily looks the same like a combination of Warcraft and StarCraft fused together into a single game while bringing a new dynamic. The moment-to-moment gameplay has been quite present, and it is hard to argue that Stormgate has succeeded in duplicating the same feel that many fans have been accustomed to.

Developed by Frost Giant Studios, Stormgate runs in the latest Unreal Engine 5 and is already out on early access since July 30, 2024. According to reports, it is expected to be released in 2025, which should make it one of the hyped titles that many fans will be looking out for as the game seeks to deliver a new standard in the RTS genre, especially with the way it is being hyped among many fans and critics out there as of the time of writing.

Why Stormgate is Expected to be a Big StarCraft Successor?

Over the years, the RTS genre has remained quiet and arguably dead with the lack of a groundbreaking title that has encapsulated the gaming world with its competitive gaming scene and highly immersive gameplay features. At this point, it is hard to argue that while many titles have emerged year after year, no game has ever managed to come close to the level that StarCraft II has set in terms of standards and expectations for many fans out there.

Many titles have come up and tried to put up trends in many ways they can on the surface, hoping to send the trend to the esports competitive scene as well. So far, none have managed to come up with an impressive stretch when it comes to the different games that have come and gone considering the fact that RTS has been considered to be extinct aside from StarCraft II itself.

Stormgate is looking like a StarCraft II remake image

While many developers have been reinvigorated by the way Warcraft III was relaunched in a Reforged (a slightly different term for game remaster), the RTS scene has seen some surge in the past few months, with Age of Mythology being the latest to be added in that mix as well. Stormgate, for all of its impressive showing so far, has been hyped with the way it is showcased in various gaming review sites, which makes it quite a promising game to look out for in the long run.

So what makes Stormgate a massive “spiritual successor” to StarCraft II?

A Universe Featuring Three Factions in Outer Space?

Stormgate factions eerily resemble factions from StarCraft and Warcraft image

Well, if this is something that is quite similar to the way StarCraft II is structured to begin with? You’ve got three factions – The Vanguard starts as a technological faction that is similar to the Terrans with sci-fi weapons dominated by swords and hammers; the Infernal Host is known for its signature burning units that make it look like a combination of the Zerg and the Undead in terms of design and even structure. Lastly, the Celestial Armada is a race that somehow blends well with the Protoss with powerful unit combinations and offers a promising experience for gamers to look out for. These unique factions of their own design, and being set in outer space, I think that’s very much “StarCraft II”-ish so far.

A Legacy of Blizzard Personnel

Ever wondered why Stormgate somehow eerily looks similar to the Blizzard games that you just played in the past few years? Well, it’s because Frost Giant Studios is quite a new developer team that is led by Tim Morten, who was StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void's production lead, and Tim Campbell, who worked on Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne as the lead designer for its campaign. At this point, the main goal of Stormgate is to promote co-op play, which was something to be considered an “afterthought” for StarCraft II back then. This just means that Frost Giant Studios is merely making its debut on the big stage, but rather coming in with a well-researched game that is set to bring more players into the fold.

A Chance to Set Standards

Stormgate is expected to be a spiritual successor for StarCraft II image

At this point, it is hard to argue that Stormgate will be any different at this point considering how well it is hard to come up with a trendy RTS game that can be quite enticing to many players – enough that it can become an esport title at the very least as well. With the work on StarCraft II’s co-op mode providing Frost Giant with a lot of reliable information on building a game that is focused on competitive strategy, this may be the chance to create a new standard that many players will love to play. After all, not all 5v5 or 3v3 games have to focus on just a single-character control – but can feature a wide array of factions and a lot of units on a single screen converging on the center.

What to Expect from Stormgate?

As Warcraft III’s prominence introduced heroes and led to Dota 2’s success, StarCraft II’s mission concepts pushed RTS to bigger heights. Now that Stormgate is seemingly rushing to the top of the RTS world in just a few months’ time, it seems that it is clearly laying the foundations of a bigger picture in the genre with a chance to show that the game genre is not yet dead, but is now heading towards a much bigger and promising look in the years to come.

If Stormgate manages to become another trendsetter with an unforgettable piece of RTS design, fans will definitely be glad to know that Frost Giant essentially took its time well to gather minerals and bring more lumber to the table and deliver what should be the next-generation StarCraft II-esque game that fans are looking out for.

Stay on top of the big games and the latest happenings in StarCraft II and the rest of the sports and esports world! Get a grasp of the hot news at GambleSpot today! From news, blogs, game predictions, betting guides, tournament previews, game analyses, and many other sports-related content, you can be sure that you can maximize your chances of winning with informed wagers!