Blizzard revitalises free StarCraft 2 with big update

Blizzard has launched StarCraft 2 patch 2.1, enabling users of the free Starter Edition of the game to use custom map developer tools, access The Arcade and Custom Games, and play with all three races in multiplayer.

The Arcade is where you can play user-created maps – previously Starter Edition players were limited to only Blizzard created maps. If the ranked multiplayer is the backbone of StarCraft 2, then user-created Arcade maps are its heart and soul.

Additionally, Custom Games are now available to Starter Edition players; this is where users can play any of the traditional StarCraft II multiplayer maps with their own custom game settings.

Ranked multiplayer remains locked to Starter Edition players.

On the singleplayer side of things, the old restrictions remain; the first four missions of the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty single-player campaign, including Mar Sara 1-3 and the choice to embark on Tychus’s first mission or Dr. Hansen’s first mission.

You can read the extensive patch notes here: StarCraft II Patch 2.1 Notes

It’s been a while since I’ve fired up StarCraft 2 and with an influx of new Arcade games to try out, I might just find my way back into the game. Have you been playing StarCraft 2? Let us know in the comments below.