StarCraft II getting new community platform called The Arcade

Blizzard is all set to roll out the next big update to its popular Real Time Strategy (RTS) game, Starcraft II. The update contains the new community forum, dubbed The Arcade, which was shown back in June. The major feature of The Arcade is that it provides a new platform for sharing the content created in Starcraft II’s powerful map editor. The patch also allows easier tracking of custom maps and game.

Considering the developer for Starcraft II is Blizzard, the closest thing we can get to a release date at the moment is “soon”. The Arcade seems very similar to what Valve did with Steam Workshop, a place that allows players to share and download mods for their games very easily. The platform could also very easily be used for selling Downloadable Content (DLC) and other stuff created by users.

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Starcraft II is getting a new major update!

Last year, Blizzard’s Frank Pearce told MTV Multiplayer in an interview that the feature was on its way.  “But it’s not necessarily something we have a specific timeline for,” he said, “which is unfortunate because one of the things that we’ve found is, especially from our learnings from World of WarCraft, is that these audiences that play these games are very, very passionate and want to experience lots and lots of content. With the StarCraft 2client and the StarCraft 2 map editor and the Battle.net platform, it creates an opportunity for the community to serve itself with content, if the mechanisms are there.”

The Arcade platform could also be a way for Blizzard to introduce its own version of the insanely popular Warcraft III map, DotA (Defense of the Ancients), titled Blizzard All-Stars. The sequel to DotA, titled Dota 2, is developed by Valve and is currently in a closed beta which can be bought through the Steam Store.

Blizzard, the creators of Stacraft

Here is some information on StarCraft II: “StarCraft 2 continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival. Featuring a unique single-player campaign that picks up where StarCraft: Brood War left off, StarCraft II will present a cast of new heroes and familiar faces in an edgy sci-fi story filled with adventure and intrigue. In addition, Blizzard will again offer unparalleled online play through Battle.net, the company’s world-renowned gaming service, with several enhancements and new features to make StarCraft II the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game.”