When it became clear that the new expansion of Hearthstone would not have a game board, parts of the community became concerned about the digital card game. Is the end approaching? Now there was an answer from Blizzard.
What was the source of the concern about the end? Just a few days before the launch of the new Hearthstone expansion “Danger in Paradise”, the Blizzard officials explained that for the first time since the introduction of the feature, there would be no new game board for the new content package.
For part of the community, this was a sign that the developers might invest less energy in the more than ten-year-old digital card game from now on. The concern about an impending beginning of the end intensified further because Blizzard’s response came late and only referred to an explanation planned for the following week.
Blizzard and the community – this escalates every now and then:
The Future of Hearthstone
What does Blizzard’s explanation look like? At the end of last week, Executive Producer Nathan Lyons-Smith actually spoke out in a comprehensive post on the official website (via hearthstone.blizzard.com). Below, we summarize the key points for you:
- The communication of the developers with the community has been lacking in recent months – specifically regarding the latest changes and the current strategy of the team, or why there is no game board for “Danger in Paradise.” Nathan Lyons-Smith wants to improve this in the future.
- Self-built, Battlegrounds, and Arena are the most popular game modes in Hearthstone, so the team’s focus is on expanding these.
- What has also worked very well: Changing the design of the Arena in detail, with early access to cards from new expansions, new rules for deck building, and selected card pools. This path is to be continued, and next year a further comprehensive update for the Arena will be provided.
- The developers have decided against continuing to release three static game boards per year. Instead, there will only be one game board that will be significantly more dynamic – with the option of choosing the game board, companions, and new hero skins.
- All existing Hearthstone game boards are to be incorporated into the rotation of standard format game boards as quickly as possible.
According to Nathan Lyons-Smith, Hearthstone is doing well and is anything but dead. On the contrary, the developers now want to lay the foundation so that you can feel “comfortable in the tavern for another decade and much longer.”
Finally, the producer writes: “We have fantastic cards and themes planned, we want to tell new stories in Azeroth and beyond, and we have events and features for you that we hope will surprise and delight you.” By the way, there was also trouble for the anniversary: Blizzard has alienated the entire community on the 10th anniversary of a game
