Save file · StarCraft
StarCraft
First release on record 31 Mar 1998 · real-time strategy
StarCraft is Blizzard Entertainment's science-fiction real-time strategy game in which terrans, protoss, and zerg fight for the Koprulu Sector. Blizzard released the original Windows and Macintosh game in 1998, and Nintendo published a Nintendo 64 edition titled StarCraft 64. The original client plus Brood War is free on Windows and Mac through the Battle.net app. StarCraft Remastered, the 4K upgrade that includes Brood War, launched on 14 August 2017 and is sold on Battle.net; PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate also includes it after the Battle.net and Xbox accounts are linked. Play needs an internet connection and a Battle.net account. It suits campaign and ladder players who will use a keyboard and mouse. The original ESRB rating is T for Teen for animated blood and gore and strong language.
Researched from the official pages · Updated
| First release | 1998 on Windows and Macintosh |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows and Mac via Battle.net; StarCraft 64 on Nintendo 64 |
| Developer | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Publisher | Blizzard Entertainment on PC and Mac; Nintendo for StarCraft 64 |
| Price | Original plus Brood War free on Battle.net; Remastered sold there and included with PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Modes | Single-player campaigns; online multiplayer for 2–8 players; team play |
| Age rating | ESRB Teen; USK 12; ACB M for Remastered |
| PC needs | Remastered minimum: Windows 10, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB storage, Pentium D or Athlon 64 X2 class GPU |
| Online | Internet, Battle.net account, and Battle.net desktop app required; handheld unsupported |
Which version of StarCraft can you play today, and on which platforms?
The copy you can start without paying is the original StarCraft plus Brood War, installed from the Battle.net desktop app on Windows and Mac. Blizzard Support states that this content is free to download and does not require a DVD or activation code; a Blizzard account is required, after which an install option appears in the StarCraft menu. The Battle.net shop lists the original game, StarCraft Remastered, a Remastered plus Cartooned bundle, and Cartooned as a pack that requires Remastered. The Xbox store listing for Remastered is a PC product with single player and online multiplayer, and Blizzard says Remastered is included with PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate after the Battle.net and Xbox accounts are linked. ESRB records StarCraft 64 on Nintendo 64, published by Nintendo; that cartridge is not on the current Battle.net or Xbox pages. The live StarCraft site also promotes a separate Defend Mankind project, which is a different product from the 1998 strategy game.
What do you get in the campaigns and in Brood War?
The original game ships three single-player campaigns, one for each race. Blizzard's classic FAQ says you do not have to play them in sequence, and recommends terran, then zerg, then protoss because the story and difficulty are built that way. Brood War adds 26 missions across three campaigns (8 protoss, 8 terran, and 10 zerg), 6 new units plus Dark Templar production for protoss, 3 new tilesets, 100 new multiplayer maps, and 4 new cinematics. Remastered packages those campaigns with 4K unit and environment art; Blizzard's art team describes the mechanics as unchanged, and the Xbox store notes a toggle between the retro look and the remastered look plus a map editor. Cartooned redraws every unit, structure, map, menu, and mission in the Carbot Animations style without changing who you can fight.
How does multiplayer work, and how many players can join?
The Xbox store lists online multiplayer for 2 to 8 players plus a single-player mode. Blizzard's original multiplayer FAQ describes team games in which two or more players share resources, technologies, vision, and unit control and may still pick different races, as well as ally and shared-vision diplomacy outside free-for-all, one-on-one, and ladder games. Remastered's shop copy highlights custom games and a competitive ladder. Cartooned is compatible with players who do not own Cartooned. Current Battle.net notes require an internet connection, a Battle.net account, and the Battle.net desktop app, and original-client multiplayer still asks for Battle.net Classic registration. Handheld compatibility is listed as unsupported. The pages opened for this article do not state console cross-play, split-screen, cloud saves, or a Steam Deck rating, and no live Steam store page for this 1998 strategy game was found.
What hardware does StarCraft Remastered need on PC and Mac?
Blizzard's Remastered specifications for Windows list a minimum of Windows 10, an Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or ATI Radeon X1600 Pro with 256 MB of video memory or better, 8 GB of storage, a 1024 by 768 display, broadband internet, and a keyboard and mouse. Recommended Windows figures are 64-bit Windows 10, an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 at 2.4 GHz or an AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ at 2.6 GHz or better, 4 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT or ATI Radeon HD 4850 with 512 MB of video memory. Real-time lighting needs a graphics card with at least 2 GB of dedicated video memory and at least 3 GB of system RAM. Mac minimums are OS X 10.13, an Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro, and 8 GB of storage. The 1998 retail FAQ for the original CD client listed a Pentium 90, 16 MB of RAM, and 640 by 480 at 256 colors; that client is the free one, delivered today through the same Battle.net app.
What costs money after the free download?
Brood War is no longer a separate purchase; it is bundled with the free original download. Remastered is the paid 4K SKU on Battle.net. The English US family page did not render a numeric US dollar price when it was read, so confirm the live Battle.net figure before paying; Game Pass is the subscription route Blizzard documents. Cartooned requires Remastered and was posted as available on 9 July 2019. Purchasing Remastered still grants three unique StarCraft II portraits and the infested Co-Op commander Alexei Stukov. The family page also lists announcer packs named Hey Jini, Kim, Jeon, and Um, plus a Voices of Legend bundle; those are optional voice packs, not new campaigns. No opened official storefront listed this 1998 strategy game as a live Steam or GOG product.
How is StarCraft age-rated?
ESRB rates the original Macintosh and Windows StarCraft T for Teen with Animated Blood and Gore and Strong Language, and no interactive elements. Brood War on Windows carries the same Teen rating and descriptors. StarCraft 64 is Teen with Animated Blood and Gore and Mild Language. USK approved the original PC game for ages 12 and over on 17 December 1997. Australia's Classification Board rates StarCraft Remastered M with consumer advice for violence and online interactivity, classified on 15 November 2018, with a 2017 production year. The Xbox store displays Remastered as Teen with Violence, Blood, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, and Users Interact, which is a wider descriptor set than the original ESRB card.
Release dates by platform
| Platform | Date | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Windows | 1998 | worldwide | Released |
| Microsoft Windows | 14 Aug 2017 | worldwide | Released |
| macOS | 14 Aug 2017 | worldwide | Released |
Prices and editions
| Store | Edition | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle.net (US) | StarCraft (original plus Brood War) | Free | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Battle.net (US) | StarCraft Remastered | — | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Battle.net (US) | StarCraft Remastered + Cartooned | — | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Battle.net (US) | StarCraft Cartooned | — | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Xbox / Microsoft Store (US) | StarCraft Remastered | — | 29 Oct 2026 |
Prices change often; each is the store's own price on the day shown.
PC requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2 | Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4 GHz) or AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (2.6 GHz) or better |
| Memory | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 6800 (256 MB) or ATI Radeon X1600 Pro (256 MB) or better | NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB) or ATI Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB) or better |
| Video memory | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| DirectX | — | — |
From the publisher's own page, read 29 Oct 2026; summarised in our own words.
Modes and features
| Feature | On record | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Single-player | Three original race campaigns, plus Brood War's three extra campaigns | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Online multiplayer | 2–8 players; custom games and ranked ladder on Remastered | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Team play | Two or more players can share resources, technology, vision, and unit control and may pick different races | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Cartooned compatibility | Cartooned owners can play with people who do not own Cartooned | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Input | Keyboard and mouse required | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Handheld compatibility | Unsupported | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Supported languages | 13 languages on the Xbox listing for Remastered | Microsoft Windows |
| Always-online client | Internet connection, Battle.net account, and Battle.net desktop app required; original-client multiplayer needs Battle.net Classic registration | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Map editor | Included; Xbox listing describes creating maps and mods | Microsoft Windows, macOS |
DLC and expansions
| Name | Released | Price |
|---|---|---|
| StarCraft: Brood War | — | Free · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| StarCraft: Cartooned | 09 Jul 2019 | — · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
Age ratings
| Board | Rating | Content descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB | T for Teen | Animated Blood and Gore, Strong Language |
| ESRB | T for Teen (Brood War) | Animated Blood and Gore, Strong Language |
| ESRB | T for Teen (StarCraft 64) | Animated Blood and Gore, Mild Language |
| USK | USK 12 | — |
| ACB | M | Violence, Online interactivity |
FAQ
Do you still need a StarCraft CD or activation code?
Blizzard Support says StarCraft and Brood War content are free to download and do not require a DVD or activation code. Install them through the Battle.net desktop application after logging in with a Blizzard account.
Can Cartooned owners queue with people who only have Remastered?
Yes. Blizzard's Cartooned news post and the Battle.net product copy both state that you can play with anyone, including players who do not own Cartooned.
Is the Defend Mankind page the 1998 strategy game?
No. The current official StarCraft site promotes a Defend Mankind project and separately lists StarCraft Remastered as the real-time strategy classic and StarCraft II as free to play. The 1998 game is the original client and Remastered.
Which race does Blizzard tell a new player to pick?
Blizzard's Remastered race guide does not name one starter race. It says each of the three races has different units, buildings, and core mechanics, and that the way to choose is to play games with all three. The original campaign FAQ still recommends terran, then zerg, then protoss for story order.
Our take
Start on Battle.net with the free original plus Brood War if you want the three-race campaigns and matches of up to eight players without paying. Move to Remastered if you want 4K art, Game Pass inclusion, and the StarCraft II Stukov bonus; add Cartooned only for the Carbot look, because it does not gate who you can fight. Stay on a Windows or Mac PC with a mouse. Before buying or subscribing, confirm you will use a Battle.net account on a broadband connection, that handheld mode is unsupported, and that the Teen, USK 12, and ACB M labels fit the household. This listing is the 1998 strategy game, not the Defend Mankind shooter and not a Steam or current Nintendo storefront build.
Best for: Players who want Blizzard's three-race real-time strategy campaigns on Windows or Mac; Players happy to use a free Battle.net client for ladder and custom games of up to eight; Game Pass subscribers who already link Xbox and Battle.net accounts.
Not for: Players who need a live Steam, PlayStation, or current Nintendo eShop listing; Players who will not create a Battle.net account or use an internet connection to play; Households looking for a rating below ESRB Teen or USK 12.
Which version: Install the free original plus Brood War from Battle.net first. Claim or buy Remastered on Battle.net or through PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate if you want 4K art and the extra Remastered features; add Cartooned only as a visual pack.
Built only from the official facts above. We don't review games we haven't played, and nothing here is paid.
Sources
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Microsoft read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- ESRB read 29 Oct 2026
- ESRB read 29 Oct 2026
- ESRB read 29 Oct 2026
- USK read 29 Oct 2026
- Australian Classification Board read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment read 29 Oct 2026
The record
Every line has its source and the day it was read- Dates on record
- 31 Mar 1998 Wikidata · read 26 Oct 2026
- Developer
- Blizzard EntertainmentWikidata · role not verified
- Publishers on record
- Nintendo, Blizzard Entertainment Wikidata
- Genres
- real-time strategy Wikidata
- Modes
- multiplayer, single-player, co-op mode Wikidata
- Age ratings on record
- Wikidata
- Series
- StarCraft Wikidata
- Platforms on record
- WindowsmacOSNintendo 64Classic Mac OS on Wikidata · on Wikidata without a reference. A platform missing here is not proof it is absent.
Facts: Wikidata Q165929 (CC0), revision 2556280811, read 26 Oct 2026, researched by VGKami Games Research (VGK-WIKIDATA-CENTRE-20261028-V3d). Spotted a wrong fact? Tell us.