Summary
- Hearthstone fans can expect groundbreaking new cosmetics in the near future, including more of the existing cosmetic types and the brand-new pets.
- The Perils in Paradise set did not add a new battlefield, upsetting fans, but Hearthstone promises more dynamic boards down the road.
- Hearthstone has also promised new Hero Skins, with a Legendary Hero Skin for Ragnaros potentially teased.
Hearthstone recently announced it was working on new types of cosmetics, including dynamic game boards and pets. While little is known about these Hearthstone features, fans can look forward to seeing some groundbreaking new ways to customize their matches in the future.
The Perils in Paradise set, which launched on July 23, broke a long-standing Hearthstone tradition: it did not add a new battlefield to the game board rotation. Though fans were disappointed by this discovery, Hearthstone announced it would explain the absence soon.
Hearthstone Devs Talk Making the Perils in Paradise Expansion
Hearthstone's Perils in Paradise brings tourists, drinks, and travel agents to the game, with The Best War Games speaking with two devs about its development.
Now, Hearthstone has not only addressed this concern, but teased a few things it is working on in the future as well. First and foremost, Hearthstone executive producer Nathan Lyons-Smith apologized for the lack of transparency regarding the missing game board and cosmetic plans. He then asserted that Hearthstone still planned to make at least one board a year, but that it hopes to make them even more dynamic than before. Lyons-Smith mentioned a way to favorite certain game boards, more high-quality skins, and a new type of cosmetic called pets in the Hearthstone blog as well.
New Cosmetics Coming to Hearthstone
- A system to choose favorite game boards
- At least one game board each year
- Pets
- “Groundbreaking” new Hero Skins
- All existing Hearthstone game boards in the Standard format board rotation
The post made it clear these innovations were still early in development, so it will be awhile before Hearthstone players see them. Given the context, fans shouldn’t be surprised if the unannounced third set in Hearthstone’s Year of the Pegasus does not have a new game board as well.
That said, these new cosmetics seem promising. The introduction of Hero Skins has been a game-changer, and innovations with Hearthstone’s new Legendary Hero Skins have been incredible and dynamic. Among them, the C’Thun Legendary Hero Skin was especially popular – a fact the blog mentioned, hinting at more skins of that level of quality coming in the future. The post mentioned it was “TOO SOON” to announce anything specific, but the evocation of Ragnaros’ iconic pre-battle speech suggests the Firelord might be the next one to get the Legendary Hero Skin treatment.
Between the inconsistent quality of recent expansion announcement trailers, several Hearthstone game modes being cut, and the lack of a game board in Perils in Paradise, many fans were starting to get worried about Hearthstone. However, Lyons-Smith says “Hearthstone is here to stay” in no minced words, citing it still has a passionate team working on exciting new cards and expansions, including a big update for Arena at the start of next year. With a strategy based on “Fun, Focus, and Fearless,” it seems like Hearthstone has some ambitious plans for the future.
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OpenCritic Reviews
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WHERE TO PLAY
Deceptively simple, insanely fun. Sheathe your sword, draw your deck, and get ready for Hearthstone—the fast-paced strategy card game that’s easy to learn and massively fun. You’ll play your cards to sling spells, summon creatures, and command the heroes of Warcraft in duels of epic strategy. Did we mention it’s free to play? Get Packed for Paradise with Hearthstone's newest expansion, Perils in Paradise.
Play on your own schedule—most games take less than 10 minutes whether you’re battling your friends or the AI. Hearthstone’s easy to learn and extremely accessible gameplay is available for Windows, Mac, and iPad.
Your deck is centered around a legendary hero and composed of minions, spells, items, and abilities from the epic Warcraft universe. While you play, the sights, sounds, and other details packed into Hearthstone bring the Warcraft universe to life in a way you’ve never experienced before.
