The most popular Hearthstone mode is not making enough money – so Blizzard is now really selling strange customizations to make a profit.
Blizzard’s card game Hearthstone has long been more than just the standard mode with constantly new expansions. No, there are many other modes, such as the Arena, the Mercenary mode, the Classic mode, the Wild mode, the Duel mode, and also Battlegrounds.
Especially the Battlegrounds mode has been quite popular for months. However, this also leads to a problem – because Blizzard is apparently hardly making any money from it.
Why is “Battlegrounds” so popular? The fact that the Battlegrounds mode in Hearthstone has developed into a long-term hit has several reasons:
- Free: Every game in this mode is completely free.
- Equal Chances: You don’t need your own cards in this game mode. All minions are purchased during the game and returned afterward. Everyone has access to everything – spent money or gold does not matter.
- Random Factors: Every match plays out differently. Unlike in classic Hearthstone, you cannot immediately tell at the beginning “With this deck, I have no chance against the other class.” Because at the start, you choose one from 3 (or 4) offered heroes – from a pool of almost 40 heroes. Additionally, certain types of minions are banned in each match, so you always have to rethink and try out new strategies.
- Autobattlers are relaxing: The Battlegrounds mode is relatively relaxing and does not require much attention (in most cases). You can play it casually “on the side” while watching shows, chatting with friends, or being in the 7th Zoom meeting of the day.
What is the problem for Blizzard? The fact that the Battlegrounds mode is so successful and can be played entirely without investment is also a disadvantage for Blizzard: The developers earn nothing from it. Anyone who only plays and loves the Battlegrounds mode essentially never has to spend money on Hearthstone.
A concept that Blizzard cannot change afterwards without making the Battlegrounds mode significantly worse and less popular.
What is Blizzard trying? For some time, Blizzard has been trying to introduce more and more monetization options into the Battlegrounds mode. Starting from new “Bartenders” who bring different lines to the player, to skins for the countless heroes.
However, whether this will really succeed is debatable. The bartender is a “personal” cosmetic. In other words: You can only see and hear it yourself. Cosmetic items in games are particularly sought after because you can show them to others and stand out from them.
The same goes for customizing the game board. Anyone who wants can lay down around 10 € to exchange the standard game board of the Battlegrounds mode for another variant – but even that can only be seen by oneself.
Skins for the countless heroes in this mode are also rather unconvincing. Unlike “real” heroes from the normal game modes, the heroes in the Battlegrounds mode do not have voicelines or emotes that can be used. So you are actually paying just for an image file that replaces another.
“Executor” animations are supposed to bring in money
Blizzard’s latest idea: Selling animations. It has already been announced that you will soon be able to buy “Executor” animations in the game. These will play when you defeat an opponent in Battlegrounds mode. Normally, your portrait will rise and attack the enemy to inflict damage.
This part of the mode can also be customized in the future – if you lay down some money. The normal attack can be replaced by an “Astral Strike”. This is either a blue wave of energy rolling towards the opponent or a proper projectile hitting if you deal at least 15 damage.
At least: The “Executor” animation of the winning player will be seen by both sides, so you can at least “show off” with it.
In the meantime, almost everything in Battlegrounds mode has been monetized that is not related to the actual gameplay. The announcer’s voice, the design of the Battleground, the appearance of the hero, and soon the Executor animation. Even to view statistics about the game mode, one has to pay each season.
It is clear that Blizzard wants to make money with one of the most popular modes in Hearthstone – and there is nothing wrong with that. However, the Battlegrounds mode is stuffed with customizations like no other, which can give the impression: The developers are truly desperate.
What do you think?
