Starcraft + Starcraft Broodwar now free to download

Why the giveaway? Blizzard is no doubt hoping to create some buzz around StarCraft: Remastered, an updated version of the game due later this year. That version will feature 4K graphics support and improved online matchmaking for multiplayer sessions.

The Verge: "StarCraft received critical acclaim on its launch in 1998, but few could have predicted its wild success in South Korea, where it became something of a national sport. Professional teams, tournaments, and TV channels sprung up around the game, which arrived in the country just as Korean internet cafes — known locally as PC bangs — exploded in popularity. A sequel, released in 2010, helped drive renewed global interest in e-sports.

The new 1.18 patch — StarCraft’s first in eight years — improves compatibility for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, makes the game playable on Mac Beta 10.11 and up, includes an observer mode, and adds UPnP support. That’s alongside technical changes that modern gamers might expect, like the ability to toggle fullscreen windowed mode and improved anti-cheat features."