The MOBA Heroes of the Storm (HotS) has so far lagged behind compared to other Blizzard games. But since the end of April, far more players are playing the MOBA featuring Blizzard’s heroes and villains. Is it due to the new loot and the Overwatch promo?
Heroes of the Storm was never a flop, but in comparison to other Blizzard games like World of Warcraft or Overwatch it wasn’t a hit either. The competition from established MOBAs like LoL or DotA2 has always been strong.
However, since April 2017, significantly more players are reportedly playing the Blizzard MOBA than before.
Heroes of the Storm: Achieving Success with Loot and Genji
Since April, the player numbers for Heroes of the Storm are said to have improved significantly. This is indicated by a survey conducted by the app provider Overwolf. The Overwolf apps recorded the games played by app users and created a ranking list. Accordingly, Heroes of the Storm was in 18th place out of 20 top games in March, but climbed to 12th place in April!
The success of Heroes of the Storm is primarily attributed to Overwatch, according to Newzoo. On one hand, the new and very popular Loot Mechanic “Heroes of the Storm 2.0” came straight from Blizzard’s hero shooter, as did the new hero Genji and the then-announced and now-released heroine D.Va.
Additionally, a large influx of Overwatch players came to HotS starting April 24, due to the promotional event “Nexus Challenge” where exclusive skins for Overwatch can be won in HotS.
Heroes of the Storm – Is the Success Sustainable?
Of course, the data from Overwolf should be viewed with caution and do not claim absoluteness. They merely indicate trends. Furthermore, there are several cases where Overwatch players have been noted for unsportsmanlike behavior in HotS. Many players felt “forced” to play a game they considered inferior to earn exclusive skins in Overwatch.
As a result, players spent rounds in HotS largely AFK or took out their frustration on their teammates, ruining their fun with intentionally poor gameplay. Whether too many players will want to play HotS alongside Overwatch in the long run remains questionable.
Also interesting: Heroes of the Storm – Lootbox Guide – The Loot and You!
