Two of many proposed RTS concepts, apparently

The report in question is from Jason Schreier, him of the plentiful journalisms and assorted newsbrokage. He’s got a book, Play Nice, about Blizzard’s history out on 8th October. Seeking to recruit readers for his latest tome of investo-sleuthing, Schreier has descended to the fifth circle of Hell - Reddit - and done an Ask Me Anything. In it, hewrote the following(ta,Gamesradar):

Morten and his team tried for years to kick off a new RTS, making all sorts of pitches and prototypes, from Warcraft 4 to even, wildly, a Call of Duty RTS pitch. (He was desperate.) But there was no appetite among Blizzard’s executive team for a new RTS game. They held out hope that if [Warcraft 3] Reforged was a massive success it might help open the doors for a WC4, but Reforged turned out to be a debacle – the company’s first bad game and a blemish in Blizzard’s history.

You can see why Blizzard management might think twice about greenlighting anything arty-essy after all that, I guess. The departure of key staff is probably also a factor, with many ancient Star- and WarCraftspeople now gainfully employed elsewhere making spiritual sequels. Frost Giant and Stormgate aside, there’sBattle Acesfrom Uncapped Games, a studio founded by former StarCraft 2 lead multiplayer designer David Kim. Meanwhile, Blizzard continue to butt their heads against the much-aborted daydream ofa StarCraft shooter.

I’m not sure there’s any need for one, but I wouldn’t mind playing a Call Of Duty RTS. Predictably, I’m thinking a smaller infantry tactics affair would make more sense than a game of mass production and bases, though I do like the idea of spawning two dozen Soap MacTavishes and hearing their voice lines overlap. I can’t quite see new parent company Microsoft signing off on such a thing, in thesetimes of mass layoffs, but if there’s one thing Microsoft appear 100% committed to it’s the onward march of Call Of Duty. Who knows?

While you foment the ole speculation, why not revisit this prototype for a COD RTS created by Vicarious Visions over 12 long years ago.