StarCraft and Brood War Now Free for PC, Mac

Observer mode, improved online play and more added.

Posted By | On 19th, Apr. 2017

To prepare for the game’s remastered edition, Blizzard Entertainment has made StarCraft and its expansion Brood War free for PC and Mac. You’ll need to pick up the latest patch for the same and Run as Admin when installing it. This will only be necessary for your first time playing the game.

The update adds a whole lot more to StarCraft than that though. There’s a new Observer mode, better compatibility with Windows 7/8.1/10 systems; improved anti-cheat functionality; support for full-screen and windowed modes; more responsive online play and improved user interface design for online areas. Information on opponents when joining game lobbies and auto-saving for replays have also been added. You can even display the game time as well. The full patch notes can be seen below.

As for StarCraft Remastered, it’s scheduled to release in Q2 2017 for PC and Mac. It will feature updated sound and graphics including 4K resolution support and an option for switching between art styles.

StarCraft 1.18 Update Patch Notes

General

  • Added windowed fullscreen or windowed mode; Alt+Enter switches between
  • Added UTF-8 support
  • Added cursor clamping in-game while windowed; unclamped in menus
  • Added Popular Maps to streamline finding games or game types
  • Added options to display actions per minute
  • Added Observer mode
  • Added opponent information when joining a game lobby
  • Added autosaving for replays
  • Added an option to display game time
  • Added UPnP support
  • Updated to a new OpenGL backend
  • Improved gameplay responsiveness during multiplayer by increasing turn rate to match LAN speeds over Battle.net
  • Improved UI layout in Battle.net sections
  • Improved behavior of available lobbies within the ‘Join Game’ section
  • Improved compatibility with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10
  • Improved anticheat capabilities
  • Improved installation and patching performance
  • Mac Beta now available for 10.11 and up

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed palette issues to correct rainbow water, 80s Kerrigan face in the loading screen, and other graphic glitches
  • Fixed problems with LAN game discovery
  • Fixed IME support and other text artifacts in Battle.net menus
  • LAN and Legacy Battle.net fixes

Known Issues

  • The profile section is currently unavailable
  • Some chat commands are still being updated to play nice in the updated chat system
  • Friends location is being improperly displayed

Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Keep On Reading!

Tales of Graces f Remastered Review – JRPG Greatness Refined

Tales of Graces f Remastered Review – JRPG Greatness Refined

The added remastered content makes an already amazing JRPG feast even better.

Mortal Kombat 1 Trailer Offers First In-Game Look at T-1000 and Conan the Barbarian

Mortal Kombat 1 Trailer Offers First In-Game Look at T-1000 and Conan the Barbarian

A brief look at Conan's Brutality is available before the DLC character's reported launch for Khaos Reigns own...

Why Marvel Rivals is Overshadowing Overwatch 2

Why Marvel Rivals is Overshadowing Overwatch 2

Blizzard's hero shooter has been floundering for a while, but it's completely outclassed by the launch of Marv...

Path of Exile 2 Developers Have No Plans to Move Away From Death Penalties in Endgame Content

Path of Exile 2 Developers Have No Plans to Move Away From Death Penalties in Endgame Content

Path of Exile 2's on-death punishments might seem harsh, especially in endgame content, but the developers wan...

Black State Gameplay Video Showcases Gorgeous Visuals and Combat

Black State Gameplay Video Showcases Gorgeous Visuals and Combat

The gameplay video for Black Slate, captured at CES 2025, showcases the title's emphasis on high-end visual fi...

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Origins Get Updates to Fix Windows 11 24H2 Compatibility Issues

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Origins Get Updates to Fix Windows 11 24H2 Compatibility Issues

Other Ubisoft titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora haven't gotten any update to fix ...