The intricate tapestry of today’s gaming landscape is woven from countless decisions and unforeseen events, a notion that invites both reflection and intrigue. A recent release, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future Of Blizzard Entertainment, authored by veteran games industry journalist Jason Schreier, sheds light on pivotal moments in the history of Blizzard, particularly regarding its iconic platform, Battle.net.
Missed Opportunities in Gaming History
One striking revelation from Schreier’s book is that Blizzard once entertained the idea of transforming Battle.net into a third-party game store, a concept proposed years before Steam made its debut. The decision to reject this proposal raises questions about how different the gaming ecosystem might look today had Blizzard chosen to pursue this path. While Battle.net has solidified its status as a cornerstone for Blizzard and Activision titles, one can only speculate whether it could have rivaled Steam had it evolved into a broader marketplace.
As Blizzard navigates its future, whispers of a potential StarCraft shooter emerge, alongside reports of multiple rejected proposals for new real-time strategy games. This ongoing evolution reflects the studio’s complex relationship with its legacy and the gaming community at large.
Schreier’s exploration delves into the departure of key figures like O’Brien, Wyatt, and Jeff Strain, who left Blizzard in 2000 over creative differences, particularly concerning the direction of Warcraft 3. Their exit led to the establishment of ArenaNet, the studio behind the acclaimed Guild Wars series, illustrating how divergent paths can lead to significant success.
While the gaming world may have taken an alternate route, the existence of Steam, despite its imperfections, suggests that perhaps the industry landed on a favorable side of this historical fork. Play Nice is now available from Hachette Book Group, a culmination of Schreier’s extensive research, which included over 350 interviews, providing a rich narrative of Blizzard’s storied past and its implications for the future of gaming.
