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
November 7–11, 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.†
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181105005609/en/
Hearthstone, Blizzard Entertainment's
internationally acclaimed free-to-play digital card game, has
reached the 100-million-player milestone. (Graphic: Business
Wire)
“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 favorite 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 colorful
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.
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. One of the company’s core design principles has been,
“Easy to learn, hard to master,” 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 centers, 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 November 7
through 11. 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.
About Hearthstone
With more than 100 million players worldwide, Hearthstone® is
Blizzard Entertainment’s internationally acclaimed free-to-play
digital card game designed for novice and veteran card-slingers
alike. Players can choose from nine powerful hero classes and
customize their decks with minions, spells, and weapons based on
the unique fantasy of the Warcraft universe. Featuring a variety of
game modes ranging from epic head-to-head duels to story-driven
Solo Adventures, Hearthstone offers a vibrant and rewarding
experience stacked with strategy, personality, and fun. Hearthstone
is available globally for Windows and Mac PCs; Windows, iOS, and
Android tablets; and mobile phones. Learn more at
www.playhearthstone.com.
About Blizzard Entertainment,
Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®,
Hearthstone®, Overwatch®, the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo®
franchises, and the multifranchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard
Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision
Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of
entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s
most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track
record includes twenty-two #1 games* and multiple Game of the Year
awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Blizzard Battle.net®,
is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active
players.
†Based on internal company records.*Sales and/or downloads;
based on internal company records and reports from key distribution
partners.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Statements:
Information in this press release that involves Blizzard
Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies
regarding the future, including statements about dates, content,
and rewards of the 100 Million Players Celebration event for
Hearthstone are forward-looking statements that are not facts
and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could
cause Blizzard Entertainment’s actual future results to differ
materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements
set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and
other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision
Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any
subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking
statements in this release are based upon information available to
Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the date of
this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision
Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when
made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not
guarantees of the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or
Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and
other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause
actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181105005609/en/
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.Lyndsi Achucarro, 949-955-1380
x12650Global PR Managerlachucarro@blizzard.comorChe’von Slaughter,
949-955-1380 x14338Senior PR Manager –
NAcslaughter@blizzard.comorDrew Symonds, 949-955-1380 x12891PR
Manager – NAdsymonds@blizzard.com
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