StarCraft’s official online multiplayer service at launch was Battle.net. Blizzard used the service to let players find opponents, create games, and communicate online.
Battle.net helped make StarCraft a major multiplayer title because it offered integrated matchmaking and competitive play without requiring a separate third-party service. Players could connect over the internet and use accounts, channels, and game lobbies to organize matches.
The service later supported other Blizzard games, including Diablo II, Warcraft III, and StarCraft II. Blizzard eventually modernized its online infrastructure, but the Battle.net name remained associated with the company’s gaming platform. GameSpy was used by some other PC games and was not StarCraft’s official service.