Hearthstone Welcomes 100 Million players to the Virtual Tavern
- Blizzard Entertainment’s free-to-play digital card game has defied the odds and become one of the most popular online games in the world
- Special thank-you event for players, running 8- 11 November AEDT/NZDT, will offer free card packs and more
A little over five years ago, a few Blizzard
Entertainment developers were toiling away on a small passion project: Hearthstone®, a free-to-play digital
collectible card game at a time when such games were not front of mind for most.
They based the game on the company’s Warcraft® universe and polished
every aspect—from the flash of the animations to the bombastic voice lines of
the heroes—and launched it to critical acclaim globally in 2014. Today Blizzard
announced that Hearthstone has hit
the 100-million-player mark.
“Reaching 100 million players is a huge milestone
for Hearthstone, but what matters to
us even more is the fact that so many people around the world have embraced the
spirit of the game,” said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment.
“Whether at events like BlizzCon® and Fireside Gatherings or just in
tuning in to watch their favourite streamers, it’s been so inspiring to see
millions of players and fans coming together, online and in real life, to
participate in the Hearthstone community.”
A
Different Kind of Mass Appeal
Hearthstone features a deceptively simple format in
which players build digital card decks and duel each other head-to-head or play
through one of several different card-based Solo Adventures. As a result of its
charm and accessibility—as well as the corresponding entertainment and
education provided by numerous talented community content creators—Hearthstone has consistently been a
leading game on media platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
As a card-based game, Hearthstone is unlike any of the other games regularly in the top
ranks on those platforms. In addition
to its highly accessible card-vs.-card gameplay and the colourful personality
that comes through its vibrant audio and visual elements, a major difference is
that all player-to-player communication takes place through pre-generated
voice lines tailored for each of the game’s playable heroes—all conveying
warmth, positivity, and good-natured sportsmanship. This helps create a
welcoming setting for all players, from beginners to seasoned veterans, and
despite being a skill-based competitive experience, offers a change of pace
from other competitive games. With separate chat functionality supported in Hearthstone across all PC and mobile
platforms, it also makes it easier for players to engage socially on their own
terms.
In addition, Blizzard recently overhauled the
“new-player experience” for the game, putting a bigger buffer between beginners
and veterans—making it even easier for anyone to jump in and play. Blizzard is
known for its polish and “easy to learn, hard to master” approach to game
design, and Hearthstone is a shining
example, with an introductory competitive experience that eases players into
the fundamentals of the game and amply rewards them along the way.
Fireside
Gatherings: Hearthstone Everywhere
To accentuate Hearthstone’s
tavern vibe and encourage players to take the fun of the game out into the
real world, Blizzard developed the global “Fireside Gathering” program,
which enables “Innkeepers” to coordinate gaming get-togethers at their local
restaurants, student centres, hobby shops, and actual taverns and pubs. Each
month, an average of 2,655 Hearthstone
Fireside Gatherings take place in cities around the world, from Boston
to Beijing.
At these events, players hang out, enjoy the
atmosphere and establishment, and battle each other on their mobile devices in
a casual competition. Special prizes are often awarded, and friendships often
develop. Another highlight is that Fireside Gatherings often feature pre-release
parties for upcoming Hearthstone
content expansions, giving attendees a first crack at playing the newest
cards being added to the game. This year alone, more than 23,000 Fireside
Gatherings have taken place, with many
more scheduled in cities everywhere.
A
Thank You to the Players
As a way of commemorating Hearthstone’s 100-million-player milestone and thanking players
everywhere for bringing the game to life, Blizzard is holding a special in-game
event from 8 through 11 November AEDT/NZDT. During the 100 Million Players
Celebration event, players who log in to the game will receive a one-time
reward of six free packs from the most recent expansion set, The Boomsday Project™. In addition, players will be able to
complete a series of “Celebrate the Players” event quests to earn up to 500
gold—which can be used to acquire card packs from any set in the game and
participate in the Arena mode, a fun alternative form of competition in Hearthstone.
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