Our first rumor and gossip since has emerged since our new design and migration over from tumeroks.com. Sources say a 5th Blizzard game is in their early development stage. 5th you say– What was the fourth? If you’re still not clued in yet:

Starcraft II Diablo III New World of Warcraft expansion Next-Gen MMO A new unannounced game (New IP?)

The rumor surfaced last week when Blizzard posted 2 new job opportunities under the “unannounced” category for two software engineers. According to a blue post from Blizzard regarding the new positions:

Update: March 24—The job openings mentioned in this newspost is indeed a brand-new game that has not been mentioned before. 1. This brand-new game is not a World of Warcraft expansion, and it is not related to the Next-Gen MMO.

2. In the present, the brand-new game is using the World of Warcraft engine merely for testing purposes.

3. The Client Software Engineer job opening is to hire the person that will have the responsibility to develop an engine from scratch for this game. This new engine will be built depending on the skill and interest of the person hired for this position. Whether this game is based on the three major franchises (Warcraft, Starcraft or Diablo) or a new IP, that remains unknown.

The first time a new IP was hinted was as far back as 2006, when Paul Sams said the following to Gamespot:

Paul Sams: “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a new franchise from us at some time in the future; there’s certainly a desire to do so.�?

Two years down the line, Paul Sams announces the Next-Gen MMO is in production but also mentioned interest in a new IP. So far, Paul Sams has been living up to his words. Although the title still remains a secret, it is official they are working on the Next-Gen MMO.

A few months ago you offered a job on the official Blizzard webpage, Considering a next gen MMO… A community manager added that its about a game that hasn’t been announced yet. Is there any new information on that or is Diablo the mentioned next gen MMO? Rob Pardo: No, its obviously not, since it is not an MMO! We have another development team, that is… So there is still one project? Rob Pardo: Yea, there is still one “unknown�? project… – source: OnlineWelten

Blizzard has very strong IP, but it also seems like all of it was created in the last century. PS: First of all, that’s true that we’ve not introduced any new franchises this century. I think what it really comes down to is, we ask the teams what they want to make next. I think the folks at our company are concerned, if they’re going to do a new franchise, that it be worthy – and that it be something that is equivalent or better than what we’ve done before, because they don’t want to do a franchise that’s not. These are three of the best-selling franchises of all time, and very well-loved. So you’ve got a pretty high bar of trying to figure out what those franchises might be. What I will say, though, is that the idea of a new franchise is very intriguing to employees of the company. Are we ever going to release a new one? I would absolutely say we will at some point. I just don’t know when that day will be quite yet.—source: Gamasutra

When the man says they’re bringing out a new game or whatever, I believe him. He has lived up to his word so far and I do feel they have the budget and are in need of banging out a new IP. Also consider the fact that they’ve yet to release any new franchise for this century.

Paul Sams: What I will say, though, is that the idea of a new franchise is very intriguing to employees of the company. Are we ever going to release a new one? I would absolutely say we will at some point. I just don’t know when that day will be quite yet.

So far, Blizzard has pretty much covered almost every genre of games out but a shooter. I wonder if that’s within the line of what they’re looking to develop. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinion.