Instant Alert: Blizzard is remaking 'StarCraft' with better graphics — and it comes out this August

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   Blizzard is remaking 'StarCraft' with better graphics — and it comes out this August by Kif Leswing on Jun 30, 2017, 12:01 PM People still play the original "StarCraft," a real-time strategy game that first came out in 1998. Now, the intergalactic war game is getting a major face-lift, and the updated version will come out on August 14 for $14.99. "StarCraft: Remastered" will preserve the gameplay of the original 1998 title, but will update its aging graphics and audio, and will ensure better compatibility with modern computers, the company said. "Gameplay and balance have been precisely preserved," Blizzard said in a press release.  Preserving the gameplay is important for this remake because the original "StarCraft" is still played as an e-sport, especially in South Korea. Here's what you need to know about the "StarCraft" remake: It will go on sale for Windows and Mac for $14.99 on August 14. Pre-orders are available now. If you pre-order, you'll get a few unique building skins. It will be able to display graphics in 4K and wide-screen. The audio ("Spawn more overlords!") has been remastered. The online component has been updated, with cloud support for saves, custom maps, and other user-generated content. As with the original, gamers will be able to play matches online. "StarCraft: Remastered" will include all of the original game's storyline and single-player version, as well as content from an expansion, "Brood War." You can switch between the remastered graphics and the original with "the click of a button." The original game and its expansions will be called "StarCraft Anthology," and Blizzard will make it free to download and play. All three original races — Protoss, Terran, and Zerg —will be playable. And here's how the newly updated graphics look: SEE ALSO: Google DeepMind announces a major new project with 'StarCraft II' The best way to look at the graphics improvement is by looking at individual units. Here's a Protoss Carrier before: And here's the same unit after the face-lift: Zerg Overlord, before: See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011