<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
is	O
a	O
standalone	O
expansion	O
pack	O
to	O
the	O
military	O
science	O
fiction	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
game	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Wings	I-Application
of	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
third	O
and	O
final	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
trilogy	O
developed	O
by	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
includes	O
additional	O
units	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
changes	O
from	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heart	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
continuing	O
campaign	O
focusing	O
on	O
the	O
Protoss	O
race	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
campaign	O
,	O
which	O
focuses	O
on	O
Artanis	O
as	O
its	O
protagonist	O
,	O
is	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Wings	B-Application
of	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
and	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
and	O
concludes	O
the	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
trilogy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
pre-order	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
announced	O
and	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
purchase	O
on	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
and	O
major	O
game	O
retailers	O
on	O
July	O
15	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pre-ordering	O
the	O
game	O
granted	O
immediate	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
beta	O
and	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
three	O
prologue	O
missions	O
titled	O
Whispers	O
of	O
Oblivion	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
subsequently	O
made	O
available	O
to	O
all	O
players	O
following	O
the	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
3.0	O
update	O
on	O
October	O
6	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
23	O
,	O
2023	O
,	O
24:00	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
Chinese	O
Server	O
suspended	O
as	O
Blizzard	O
declared	O
to	O
end	O
its	O
14-year	O
partnership	O
with	O
NetEase	O
,	O
its	O
Chinese	O
publisher	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
features	O
an	O
even	O
number	O
of	O
missions	O
similar	O
to	O
Wings	B-Application
of	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
and	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
and	O
centers	O
around	O
the	O
Protoss	O
character	O
Artanis	O
,	O
hierarch	O
of	O
the	O
Khalai	O
Protoss	O
and	O
the	O
Nerazim	O
(	O
Dark	O
Templar	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
's	O
campaign	O
focuses	O
on	O
the	O
Protoss	O
and	O
concludes	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
Starcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
trilogy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
mechanics	O
were	O
modified	O
in	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Oracle	O
from	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
now	O
has	O
its	O
Revelation	O
and	O
Envision	O
abilities	O
combined	O
into	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
can	O
now	O
also	O
cast	O
a	O
Stasis	O
Ward	O
,	O
an	O
invisible	O
mine-like	O
structure	O
that	O
,	O
when	O
detonated	O
,	O
traps	O
units	O
in	O
a	O
small	O
radius	O
in	O
stasis	O
,	O
much	O
like	O
the	O
Stasis	O
Field	O
ability	O
from	O
the	O
Arbiter	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
:	I-Application
Brood	I-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Disruptor	O
is	O
reminiscent	O
of	O
the	O
Protoss	O
Reaver	O
from	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
in	O
that	O
precise	O
micromanagement	O
is	O
required	O
to	O
deliver	O
greater	O
damage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Terrans	O
remain	O
virtually	O
unaltered	O
of	O
their	O
macro-mechanics	O
inherited	O
from	O
Wings	B-Application
of	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
,	O
meaning	O
they	O
can	O
still	O
deploy	O
MULEs	O
and	O
Extra	O
Supplies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Reaper	O
from	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
gains	O
a	O
grenade-like	O
ability	O
that	O
deals	O
minimal	O
damage	O
,	O
but	O
knocks	O
back	O
and	O
temporarily	O
stuns	O
enemy	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
alteration	O
to	O
Zerg	O
macro-mechanics	O
is	O
the	O
reduction	O
of	O
extra	O
Larvae	O
produced	O
by	O
Queens	O
per	O
Hatchery	O
,	O
from	O
4	O
in	O
HotS/WoL	O
to	O
3	O
in	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
,	O
and	O
additionally	O
the	O
Spawn	O
Larvae	O
ability	O
can	O
now	O
be	O
used	O
multiple	O
times	O
on	O
Hatcheries	O
to	O
queue	O
Larvae	O
production	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
units	O
,	O
the	O
Swarm	O
Host	O
,	O
to	O
accommodate	O
for	O
the	O
returning	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
Lurker	O
,	O
no	O
longer	O
burrows	O
and	O
has	O
its	O
role	O
altered	O
to	O
a	O
"	O
siege	O
assault	O
"	O
unit	O
,	O
able	O
to	O
spawn	O
its	O
Locust	O
while	O
moving	O
and	O
unburrowed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
time	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
Zeratul	O
searches	O
to	O
unravel	O
the	O
final	O
piece	O
of	O
the	O
Xel'Naga	O
prophecy	O
,	O
which	O
requires	O
him	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
place	O
of	O
Amon	O
's	O
resurrection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Artanis	O
leads	O
the	O
Golden	O
Armada	O
in	O
an	O
invasion	O
of	O
their	O
Zerg-infested	O
homeworld	O
of	O
Aiur	O
,	O
abandoned	O
since	O
the	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
six	O
years	O
earlier	O
;	O
Zeratul	O
arrives	O
to	O
warn	O
Artanis	O
of	O
Amon	O
's	O
return	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
invasion	O
proceeds	O
regardless	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
combined	O
Terran/Zerg/Protoss	O
armada	O
successfully	O
breaches	O
Amon	O
's	O
first	O
line	O
of	O
defense	O
,	O
and	O
Alexei	O
Stukov	O
,	O
the	O
Zerg-infested	O
former	O
vice	O
admiral	O
of	O
the	O
United	O
Earth	O
Directorate	O
,	O
kills	O
a	O
resurrected	O
Duran/Narud	O
,	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
Xel'Naga	O
himself	O
,	O
in	O
retaliation	O
for	O
Duran	O
killing	O
Stukov	O
on	O
Braxis	O
during	O
the	O
Brood	B-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
on	O
May	O
19	O
,	O
2007	O
at	O
the	O
Blizzard	O
Worldwide	O
Invitational	O
in	O
Seoul	O
,	O
South	O
Korea	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
June	O
2008	O
Blizzard	O
Worldwide	O
Invitational	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
Executive	O
Vice	O
President	O
Rob	O
Pardo	O
said	O
that	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
trilogy	O
of	O
games	O
,	O
starting	O
with	O
Wings	B-Application
of	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
,	O
focused	O
on	O
the	O
Terrans	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
revolving	O
around	O
the	O
Zerg	O
,	O
and	O
finally	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
,	O
devoted	O
to	O
the	O
Protoss	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
's	O
storyboard	O
team	O
was	O
already	O
working	O
on	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
in	O
early	O
2010	O
while	O
Wings	O
of	O
Libertys	O
game	O
play	O
was	O
refined	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
2008	O
,	O
little	O
to	O
no	O
development	O
was	O
going	O
into	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Work	O
had	O
started	O
on	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
story	O
,	O
scripts	O
and	O
missions	O
by	O
March	O
2013	O
,	O
as	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
neared	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dustin	O
Browder	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
director	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
we	O
will	O
certainly	O
do	O
our	O
best	O
to	O
reduce	O
the	O
time	O
between	O
expansions	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
noting	O
that	O
"	O
efficient	O
and	O
quick	O
game	O
development	O
is	O
not	O
something	O
we	O
have	O
traditionally	O
been	O
great	O
at.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
February	O
2013	O
,	O
James	O
Waugh	O
is	O
serving	O
as	O
lead	O
writer	O
on	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
August	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
story	O
for	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
was	O
written	O
,	O
much	O
of	O
the	O
cinematics	O
were	O
completed	O
,	O
and	O
voice	O
actors	O
were	O
in	O
the	O
studio	O
recording	O
dialogue	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
16	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
at	O
E3	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
their	O
intent	O
to	O
release	O
a	O
prologue	O
to	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
,	O
titled	O
Whispers	O
of	O
Oblivion	O
and	O
consisting	O
of	O
3	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
October	O
6	O
,	O
2015	O
update	O
to	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
to	O
all	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
mini-series	O
is	O
intended	O
to	O
bridge	O
the	O
storyline	O
between	O
Heart	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Swarm	I-Application
and	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
sold	O
more	O
than	O
1	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
within	O
its	O
first	O
24	O
hours	O
of	O
being	O
on	O
sale	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
has	O
been	O
favorably	O
reviewed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Softpedia	O
concluded	O
that	O
"	O
Starcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
deserves	O
its	O
place	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
influential	O
releases	O
of	O
the	O
past	O
five	O
years	O
,	O
and	O
this	O
Protoss-focused	O
chapter	O
manages	O
to	O
deliver	O
a	O
fitting	O
end	O
to	O
its	O
core	O
narrative	O
while	O
opening	O
up	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
in	O
some	O
interesting	O
ways.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
BlizzCon	O
2015	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
"	O
Future	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
"	O
presentation	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
revealed	O
that	O
Blizzard	O
would	O
be	O
releasing	O
more	O
post-release	O
content	O
for	O
both	O
the	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
modes	O
like	O
co-op	O
missions	O
,	O
where	O
players	O
can	O
choose	O
a	O
commander	O
from	O
the	O
StarCraft	B-Application
universe	O
and	O
play	O
in	O
campaign-style	O
missions	O
with	O
a	O
partner	O
,	O
were	O
expanded	O
upon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
keep	O
players	O
engaged	O
with	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
,	O
additional	O
mission	O
packs	O
were	O
announced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
pack	O
,	O
called	O
Nova	B-Application
Covert	I-Application
Ops	I-Application
,	O
features	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
nine	O
missions	O
delivered	O
in	O
three	O
episodic	O
installments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Professional	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
competition	O
was	O
in	O
decline	O
prior	O
to	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Not	O
long	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
's	O
primary	O
sanctioned	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
competition	O
,	O
the	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
World	O
Championship	O
Series	O
,	O
was	O
changed	O
as	O
the	O
format	O
transitioned	O
from	O
a	O
league	O
format	O
,	O
with	O
competition	O
consistently	O
ongoing	O
for	O
weeks	O
or	O
months	O
,	O
to	O
a	O
circuit	O
format	O
,	O
focusing	O
on	O
a	O
few	O
weekend-long	O
events	O
throughout	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
format	O
for	O
the	O
region	O
of	O
Korea	O
,	O
the	O
most	O
successful	O
country	O
in	O
professional	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
remained	O
league-focused	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
7	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
retiring	O
the	O
Starcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
World	O
Championship	O
Series	O
format	O
,	O
instead	O
transitioning	O
Professional	O
competition	O
to	O
the	O
ESL	O
Pro	O
Tour	O
.	O
</s>
