Blizzard-approved free-to-play MMO game from Upheaval Arts reaches and surpasses $80,000 Kickstarter target with 30 hours to go.

StarCraft Universe, a fan-created and Blizzard-approved free-to-play massively multiplayer online game based on the real-time strategy series, has surpassed its $80,000 Kickstarter funding target. The milestone was achieved earlier today.

As press time, funding for StarCraft Universe stands at $81,956 from 1,566 total backers. If funding reaches $100,00 before the campaign closes tomorrow evening, developer Upheaval Arts will add a Zerg character class.

StarCraft Universe tells a story set in an alternate reality where the end of Wings of Liberty “has a grim conclusion” for Kerrigan.

“Without the Queen of Blades to stop the hybrid’s assault, the protoss are overwhelmed and defeated. In this reality, what would the survivors of these shattered worlds do? StarCraft Universe tells this story,” reads the game’s description.

StarCraft Universe, a third-person MMO game, will feature an “epic story” as well as multiplayer raiding experiences. Upheaval Arts is aiming to release the project as a series of custom games published through Battle.net.

Terran classes include marine, ghost, medic, and firebat; Protoss classes are zealot, dark templar, preserver, and high templar. StarCraft Universe also promises customizable characters and weapons, as well as mounts, voice-acted cutscenes, and four difficulty levels.

Upheaval Arts does not foresee any legal problems with Blizzard Entertainment, which owns the StarCraft franchise.

“While Blizzard is not directly affiliated with this project’s production, we do communicate with them to submit bug reports and make technical requests,” the developer said. “They have given their blessing/permission for us to launch this Kickstarter, and they are supporting our efforts by featuring SCU as an Arcade Highlight.”

To play StarCraft Universe, players must have an Internet connection, a Battle.net account, and a copy of StarCraft II, which can be the free Starter Edition. Upheaval Arts is hoping to ship the first content for the game–an open beta test–in late 2013 or early 2014.

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