StarCraft 2 patch 2.1 makes custom maps free to Starter Edition owners

StarCraft 2's Starter Edition will be a whole lot more expansive when patch 2.1 hits later today, adding in access to custom maps.

Kotaku reports Starter Edition owners will soon have access to all three races, which is cool, but by granting access to custom maps for free Blizzard has pretty much handed you the keys to endless gameplay, without shelling out a cent. StarCraft 2 modders don't just produce variations on existing maps, but entirely new kinds of games - one guy even built an MMO, StarCraft Universe.

The cute video below explains Blizzard's approach to its mod tools, and includes a nod to DOTA; originally a user-created mod of Blizzard games, it went on to spawn the MOBA genre which is now making money hand over fist and leading free-to-play into a glorious new future that people don't hate.

Patch 2.1 also includes lots of other new features, including more rewards for meta-progression.