The story was originally broke by Charles Onyett from IGN as it was happening on the floor at the Worldwide Invitational in Seoul, South Korea aproximately an hour ago.

So far here’s the details:

• No release date has been announced.
• Simultaneous release on Windows and Macintosh platforms.
• The game UI remains very close to the original.
• Graphic style and unit proportions are nearly the same.
• Enhanced lighting effects (Think C&C3, and Supreme Commander)
• Massive battles with hundreds of units for large scale fights
• Single player, and online play through upgraded Battle.net service
• Realistic physics system for particle debris
• New unique gameplay mechanics for Protoss, Terran, and Zerg races.

New units such as the Protoss Mothership with a weapon to slow time while also creating black holes or launching a devastating massive laser against ground targets, Protoss Immortals with defense shields, Protoss Stalker (four legged unit) with self teleport, Protoss Colossus with dual lasers and long legs to travel over difficult terrain easily, Protoss Phoenix with the ability to overcharge weapons for a one-time shot with a cooldown, Protoss Warprey flying unit with a damage over time laser that increases in effectiveness but vulnerable to ground troops, Terran Reapers with jump packs, and Zerglings that can now mutate into rolling kamakazie bombs.

New abilities, Protoss can create shields whereever they want, and can warp in units from manufacturing facilities within range of their pylons. Protoss in general apparently will have great mobility for all units using phase fields and teleporting to move large groups of forces around.

Overall it sounds like SC2 is shaping up to be a solid sequel to the original released in early 1998. It likely won’t be blazing any new ground for the RTS genre but with Blizzards careful development its sure to be yet another bestseller with the polish and action packed gameplay that its die-hard fanbase expects.

Update: As of 4am CST Blizzard has launched the Starcraft2.com website.

Sources: IGN.com, Blizzard.com.