The small online card game Hearthstone, designed by Blizzard employees to show that one can still be small, is poised for a huge leap a quarter after its official release. Three reasons are responsible for this.
Hearthstone was actually just an attempt to return to its roots and create a “small” game again. An online collectible card game that will likely remind most players of Magic: The Gathering at first glance. The reviews were positive. We let our Cortyn loose on Hearthstone and she returned with 82% . Gamestar gave it 81%, and at Meta-Critic, it landed at 88%, also thanks to a 100% rating from the currently trending magazine Polygon. The players, for whom Blizzard still enjoys a top reputation, started engaging with the game during the beta.
The game is already performing excellently. Now, after a quarter of a year, signs are emerging that Hearthstone could level up in terms of popularity and significance. We will tell you why.
The Naxx expansion is coming in July, bringing more complexity
For weeks now, the first cards from the Naxx set have been introduced. The themes are based on the classic World of Warcraft raid “Naxxramas”, which returned with Wrath of the Lich King.
What impact does such a set have? Huge, if you ask someone who really knows about it.
[quote_right]Easy to play, hard to master[/quote_right]
According to Hearthstone pro Amaz, on the sidelines of Dreamhack, the set will significantly advance the game. Because so many new cards increase the strategy level and the variety of decks. Amaz, the runner-up in the $25,000 Dreamhack tournament in Sweden, is anyway a Blizzard fanboy, as he says. And he is already enthusiastic about Hearthstone because it is so easy to play, but so hard to master.
A date for the Naxxramas expansion was not known for a long time, but now Blizzard is talking about July. Some speculated earlier that it had to be June 20, for the eighth anniversary of Naxxramas. We can credibly deny this with the wisdom of hindsight. There will be no beta for Naxx.
Hearthstone as an eSport – Events, Prize Money, Reddit and a Scene
When people think of eSports, they often envision nimble players, lightning-fast raids, brilliant split-second decisions, and crazed frenzy. In Hearthstone, however, the pros look more like poker players, equipped with headphones, staring at the monitor in hoodies, unable to take their fingers off their faces from tension. Seconds pass with every turn. You can see the players think.
However, the game is by no means tedious or boring due to the tight time limits, the various strategies, and the short round duration, but rather achieves an unexpectedly high entertainment value. Especially since, despite all the strategy, luck also plays a role, and the duels can turn with a lucky draw, a “lucky punch”.
By now, specialized sites have also formed around Blizzard’s card game, shedding light on strategies, decks, and trends. With viagamer, a streaming service has emerged that aims to take reporting to a new level. A scene is forming.
If Hearthstone manages to establish itself somewhere between Dota 2, League of Legends, and Starcraft as an eSport power, it would be a huge deal.
Because the “normal players” already love to analyze and dissect the pros’ game from their home subreddit /r/Hearthstone. Since no direct “skill level” is required and while the pros play with the best cards, these cards are also accessible to “normal” players, there is great potential.
Mobile Version Expected “Soon”
To really take off, many agree that Hearthstone needs a functioning version for iPhone and Android more than anything else. The game is now running on the iPad, but it still looks poor on iPhone and Android. These would be the natural media for a “casual game” in the best sense of the word. A quick round while waiting for the bus or during a smoke break could further integrate the game into gamers’ everyday lives, significantly increasing the number of daily matches and ensuring it becomes “viral,” thus really taking off.
Conclusion: The mobile version will come “soon,” Naxxramas in July even “sooner.” This will give the game a huge boost, both qualitatively and quantitatively. With the increasing complexity of the game due to the expansion pack, the “social factor” through eSport, and the increased activity through the mobile version, Hearthstone is likely to really gain traction by the end of the year and become an even bigger topic than it already is.
Not bad for a game that was developed “just like that” and “to see what it’s like to work in small teams again.” Hats off, Blizzard.
Or as the saying goes: The devil always shits on the biggest pile. But if you have earned such a good reputation that countless companies, sites, and people are just waiting to see what you do next to become part of the hype, then there is nothing wrong with that. Many people around Hearthstone, streamers, site operators, casters, eSport newcomers, want and are counting on Hearthstone being a massive hit. At the moment, it looks like it will be.
