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Hearthstone actually gets regular, huge updates now days. Far more than it did in the first few years. Just today they dropped a surprise update for Battlegroun

Hearthstone actually gets regular, huge updates now days. Far more than it did in the first few years. Just today they dropped a surprise update for Battlegrounds. It's clear there's a major, constant effort going into developing new expansions, new game modes, etc. They've figured out a clever model of rotating out the old content to make room for more new stuff. No doubt Hearthstone is very profitable for Blizzard! Starcraft 2 and HotS, on the other hand, have basically been abandoned. Even Overwatch seems to be stagnating somewhat.

scruple 6y ago
That's true, and I love Hearthstone and play regularly (I really prefer the rule sets in HS to MTG:Arena, for example) and have played since Beta... But, Hearthstone is also monetized like crazy today, as well. Especially as compared to 3 years ago.
- Reason077 6y ago
  I think they have actually struck a pretty good balance when it comes to paid content. There isn't really anything (except maybe some of the hero skins?) you actually have to pay for and can't get for free. You can be top-level competitive without spending a cent, so long as you play enough and spend your gold & dust wisely...
  - scruple 6y ago
    Yes, I agree. The paid content is good (and the changes they've made to F2P are good, too), and I also think that it's required to maintain the level of development that they are pumping into the game, but... IMO, it is not as easy to play Hearthstone _casually_ today as it was 3 years ago and that's the time frame that the article is discussing wrt MAU. edit/ The addition of classic mode may make it more approachable for casual players. Time will tell.
jkeuhlen 6y ago
Didn't they just copy the MtG model on cycling content for competitions? I could be wrong but I thought it was almost exactly what Wizards of the Coast starting doing in the early days of Magic.
- Reason077 6y ago
  Quite possibly. I'm not familiar enough with MtG to say. But it keeps the game fresh, while conveniently (for Blizzard) also ensuring the fans keep paying.
AceJohnny2 6y ago
I'll admit Hearthstone is the only mobile game I've consistently played over the years. As a huge gamer, nothing else in the mobile space has had the breadth and depth of Hearthstone, while being accessible for 5-20 minute sessions.

scruple 6y ago

That's true, and I love Hearthstone and play regularly (I really prefer the rule sets in HS to MTG:Arena, for example) and have played since Beta... But, Hearthstone is also monetized like crazy today, as well. Especially as compared to 3 years ago.

Reason077 6y ago
I think they have actually struck a pretty good balance when it comes to paid content. There isn't really anything (except maybe some of the hero skins?) you actually have to pay for and can't get for free. You can be top-level competitive without spending a cent, so long as you play enough and spend your gold & dust wisely...
- scruple 6y ago
  Yes, I agree. The paid content is good (and the changes they've made to F2P are good, too), and I also think that it's required to maintain the level of development that they are pumping into the game, but... IMO, it is not as easy to play Hearthstone _casually_ today as it was 3 years ago and that's the time frame that the article is discussing wrt MAU. edit/ The addition of classic mode may make it more approachable for casual players. Time will tell.

jkeuhlen 6y ago

Didn't they just copy the MtG model on cycling content for competitions? I could be wrong but I thought it was almost exactly what Wizards of the Coast starting doing in the early days of Magic.

Reason077 6y ago
Quite possibly. I'm not familiar enough with MtG to say. But it keeps the game fresh, while conveniently (for Blizzard) also ensuring the fans keep paying.

AceJohnny2 6y ago

I'll admit Hearthstone is the only mobile game I've consistently played over the years. As a huge gamer, nothing else in the mobile space has had the breadth and depth of Hearthstone, while being accessible for 5-20 minute sessions.