<s>
Hearthstone	B-Application
is	O
a	O
free-to-play	O
online	B-Application
digital	B-Application
collectible	I-Application
card	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
subtitled	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warcraft	I-Application
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
builds	O
upon	O
the	O
existing	O
lore	O
of	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
series	O
by	O
using	O
the	O
same	O
elements	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
relics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
first	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
macOS	B-Application
in	O
March	O
2014	O
,	O
with	O
ports	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
releasing	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
allowing	O
players	O
on	O
any	O
supported	O
device	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
one	O
another	O
,	O
restricted	O
only	O
by	O
geographical	O
region	O
account	O
limits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
to	O
other	O
games	O
developed	O
by	O
Blizzard	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
an	O
experimental	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
a	O
smaller	O
team	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
appreciation	O
of	O
collectible	O
card	O
games	O
at	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
avoid	O
the	O
pitfalls	O
of	O
other	O
digital	B-Application
collectible	I-Application
card	I-Application
games	I-Application
by	O
eliminating	O
any	O
possible	O
plays	O
from	O
an	O
opponent	O
during	O
a	O
player	O
's	O
turn	O
and	O
by	O
replicating	O
the	O
feel	O
of	O
a	O
physical	O
card	O
game	O
within	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
concepts	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
art	O
assets	O
were	O
based	O
on	O
those	O
previously	O
published	O
in	O
the	O
physical	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
Trading	O
Card	O
Game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
has	O
been	O
favorably	O
reviewed	O
by	O
critics	O
and	O
has	O
been	O
a	O
success	O
for	O
Blizzard	O
,	O
earning	O
nearly	O
per	O
month	O
as	O
of	O
August	O
2017	O
.	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
has	O
reported	O
more	O
than	O
100	O
million	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
within	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
universe	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
is	O
a	O
digital-only	O
,	O
turn-based	O
collectible	O
card	O
game	O
which	O
pits	O
two	O
opponents	O
against	O
each	O
other	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
classes	O
have	O
unique	O
cards	O
and	O
abilities	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
hero	O
powers	O
,	O
which	O
help	O
define	O
class	O
archetypes	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
other	O
card	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Magic	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Gathering	I-Application
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
speed	O
up	O
play	O
by	O
eliminating	O
any	O
manual	O
reactions	O
from	O
the	O
opposing	O
player	O
during	O
a	O
player	O
's	O
turn	O
,	O
and	O
setting	O
a	O
timer	O
for	O
each	O
player	O
's	O
turn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Battlegrounds	B-Protocol
,	O
introduced	O
in	O
November	O
2019	O
,	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
auto	O
battler	O
genre	O
,	O
allowing	O
eight	O
players	O
to	O
compete	O
in	O
each	O
match	O
by	O
recruiting	O
minions	O
over	O
several	O
rounds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Duels	O
,	O
introduced	O
in	O
October	O
2020	O
,	O
is	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
version	O
of	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
's	O
singleplayer	O
"	O
Dungeon	O
Run	O
"	O
game	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Examples	O
of	O
these	O
quests	O
and	O
missions	O
include	O
facing	O
the	O
bosses	O
of	O
Icecrown	O
Citadel	O
with	O
Knights	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
's	O
release	O
and	O
the	O
new	O
dungeon	O
run	O
feature	O
which	O
appeared	O
in	O
the	O
Kobolds	O
&	O
Catacombs	O
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
player	O
demand	O
in	O
July	O
2017	O
,	O
players	O
were	O
again	O
able	O
to	O
purchase	O
these	O
retired	O
sets	O
and	O
all	O
future	O
sets	O
that	O
are	O
retired	O
from	O
Standard	O
by	O
using	O
real	O
money	O
on	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
online	B-Application
store	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
thumb|Hearthstone	O
interface	O
designer	O
Derek	O
Sakamoto	O
presents	O
at	O
GDC	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
of	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
at	O
Blizzard	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
two	O
directions	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
developer	O
Eric	O
Dodds	O
:	O
a	O
desire	O
for	O
Blizzard	O
to	O
develop	O
something	O
more	O
experimental	O
with	O
a	O
smaller	O
team	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
their	O
larger	O
projects	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
shared	O
love	O
of	O
collectible	O
card	O
games	O
throughout	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
executives	O
,	O
around	O
2008	O
,	O
had	O
considered	O
that	O
their	O
revenue	O
was	O
primarily	O
sustained	O
on	O
three	O
well-established	O
properties	O
(	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
,	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Diablo	B-Application
series	I-Application
)	O
,	O
but	O
saw	O
the	O
rise	O
of	O
small	O
independent	O
developers	O
with	O
highly	O
successful	O
projects	O
,	O
representing	O
a	O
shift	O
in	O
the	O
traditional	O
video	O
game	O
model	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
found	O
it	O
natural	O
to	O
build	O
the	O
card	O
game	O
around	O
the	O
existing	O
Warcraft	B-Application
lore	O
;	O
according	O
to	O
production	O
director	O
Jason	O
Chayes	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
was	O
already	O
a	O
well-known	O
property	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
depth	O
of	O
characters	O
and	O
locations	O
created	O
for	O
other	O
games	O
in	O
that	O
series	O
made	O
it	O
easy	O
to	O
create	O
cards	O
inspired	O
by	O
those	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
saw	O
that	O
new	O
players	O
to	O
Warcraft	B-Application
may	O
be	O
drawn	O
into	O
the	O
other	O
games	O
through	O
playing	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
was	O
able	O
to	O
pull	O
concepts	O
and	O
art	O
from	O
the	O
pre-existing	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
Trading	O
Card	O
Game	O
,	O
first	O
published	O
in	O
2006	O
by	O
Upper	O
Deck	O
and	O
later	O
by	O
Cryptozoic	O
Entertainment	O
;	O
when	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
near	O
completion	O
,	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
terminated	O
its	O
license	O
with	O
Cryptozoic	O
as	O
to	O
favor	O
their	O
pending	O
digital	B-Application
card	I-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
about	O
a	O
year	O
of	O
starting	O
development	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
had	O
produced	O
an	O
Adobe	B-Operating_System
Flash	I-Operating_System
prototype	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
that	O
offered	O
the	O
core	O
card	O
game	O
mechanics	O
and	O
the	O
unique	O
heroes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
this	O
point	O
,	O
several	O
on	O
Team	O
5	O
were	O
temporarily	O
moved	O
into	O
other	O
teams	O
to	O
complete	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Wings	I-Application
of	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Principal	O
designers	O
Dodds	O
and	O
Ben	O
Brode	O
remained	O
developing	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
two	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
quickly	O
iterate	O
many	O
ideas	O
using	O
both	O
the	O
prototype	O
and	O
physical	O
replicas	O
to	O
fine-tune	O
the	O
game	O
mechanics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Secondly	O
,	O
those	O
that	O
were	O
put	O
on	O
StarCraft	B-Application
II	O
came	O
back	O
with	O
ideas	O
based	O
on	O
StarCrafts	O
asymmetric	O
gameplay	O
to	O
help	O
balance	O
the	O
various	O
heroes	O
while	O
still	O
creating	O
a	O
unique	O
characterization	O
and	O
play-style	O
for	O
each	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
development	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
began	O
using	O
the	O
principle	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
needed	O
to	O
be	O
both	O
accessible	O
and	O
charming	O
,	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
draw	O
in	O
new	O
players	O
and	O
to	O
be	O
clear	O
how	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unity	B-Application
is	O
used	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
engine	O
in	O
the	O
interest	O
of	O
speed	O
and	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
game	O
run	O
smoother	O
since	O
the	O
server	O
is	O
where	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
rules	O
exist	O
and	O
calculations	O
happen	O
then	O
the	O
server	O
tells	O
the	O
client	O
what	O
happened	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
the	O
beginning	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
solely	O
online	B-Application
and	O
to	O
mimic	O
the	O
feel	O
of	O
physical	O
cards	O
to	O
make	O
it	O
more	O
accessible	O
to	O
new	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
eliminate	O
any	O
gameplay	O
from	O
the	O
opponent	O
during	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
turn	O
,	O
streamlining	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
interface	O
were	O
set	O
to	O
replicate	O
the	O
feel	O
of	O
a	O
physical	O
game	O
being	O
watched	O
by	O
an	O
audience	O
:	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
starts	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
opening	O
a	O
box	O
,	O
during	O
gameplay	O
the	O
cards	O
waver	O
and	O
move	O
while	O
in	O
their	O
hand	O
,	O
and	O
cards	O
when	O
played	O
slam	O
down	O
on	O
the	O
board	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hearthstone	B-Application
also	O
offers	O
interactive	O
boards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
physical	O
trading	O
card	O
games	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
designed	O
early	O
on	O
without	O
any	O
trading	O
system	O
between	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hamilton	O
Chu	O
,	O
the	O
executive	O
producer	O
of	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
,	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
a	O
key	O
thing	O
for	O
us	O
was	O
focusing	O
on	O
[	O
the	O
user ]	O
...	O
playing	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
trading	O
and	O
market	O
features	O
would	O
dilute	O
this	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
:	O
The	O
Absence	O
Of	O
A	O
Trading	O
System.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
name	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
,	O
was	O
meant	O
to	O
imply	O
to	O
a	O
close	O
gathering	O
of	O
friends	O
by	O
a	O
hearth	O
,	O
a	O
goal	O
of	O
what	O
they	O
want	O
players	O
to	O
feel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
—	O
and	O
working	O
in	O
other	O
previous	O
Warcraft	B-Application
themes	O
among	O
the	O
new	O
songs	O
with	O
help	O
from	O
Hayes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
they	O
approached	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
in	O
March	O
2014	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
found	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
hard	O
to	O
generate	O
interest	O
in	O
getting	O
people	O
to	O
try	O
the	O
game	O
;	O
those	O
they	O
asked	O
to	O
try	O
the	O
game	O
felt	O
that	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
not	O
the	O
type	O
of	O
game	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
interested	O
in	O
playing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
this	O
point	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
opted	O
to	O
make	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
free	O
to	O
play	O
and	O
while	O
card	O
packs	O
can	O
be	O
bought	O
with	O
in-game	O
currency	O
earned	O
through	O
winning	O
matches	O
and	O
completing	O
quests	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
also	O
buy	O
packs	O
if	O
they	O
do	O
not	O
want	O
to	O
wait	O
on	O
earning	O
currency	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
provides	O
regular	O
bug	O
fixes	O
,	O
updates	O
,	O
and	O
expansions	O
for	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hamilton	O
Chu	O
,	O
the	O
former	O
executive	O
producer	O
for	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
,	O
stated	O
that	O
Blizzard	O
intends	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
ten	O
to	O
twenty	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
solo	O
challenges	O
on	O
Adventure	O
mode	O
also	O
served	O
as	O
a	O
means	O
to	O
help	O
players	O
understand	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
stronger	O
archetypes	B-Language
of	O
card	O
decks	O
and	O
learn	O
strategies	O
to	O
defeat	O
them	O
,	O
helping	O
them	O
become	O
better	O
players	O
against	O
human	O
opponents	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
the	O
themes	O
and	O
mechanics	O
for	O
each	O
Expansion	O
and	O
Adventure	O
are	O
often	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
current	O
atmosphere	O
around	O
the	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
community	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
senior	O
designer	O
Mike	O
Donais	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
early	O
expansions	O
were	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
franchise	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
have	O
been	O
able	O
to	O
move	O
away	O
from	O
staying	O
with	O
that	O
narrative	O
and	O
are	O
free	O
to	O
create	O
new	O
aspects	O
not	O
established	O
by	O
Warcraft	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
idea	O
was	O
reflected	O
by	O
the	O
dropping	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warcraft	I-Application
"	O
subtitle	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
name	O
around	O
December	O
2016	O
to	O
demonstrate	O
to	O
new	O
players	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
no	O
longer	O
tied	O
to	O
Warcraft	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
new	O
cards	O
and	O
mechanics	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
has	O
also	O
worked	O
to	O
add	O
new	O
features	O
to	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
itself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
January	O
12	O
,	O
2016	O
Dodds	O
equated	O
the	O
Tavern	O
Brawl	O
mode	O
as	O
a	O
place	O
to	O
try	O
experimental	O
mechanics	O
that	O
may	O
later	O
be	O
introduced	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
to	O
offer	O
gameplay	O
that	O
varies	O
significantly	O
from	O
other	O
areas	O
of	O
play	O
within	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
experimented	O
with	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
during	O
development	O
,	O
having	O
successfully	O
played	O
a	O
game	O
on	O
PC	O
against	O
a	O
player	O
using	O
an	O
iPad	B-Device
;	O
however	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
not	O
a	O
feature	O
at	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
was	O
added	O
in	O
April	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
introduction	O
of	O
the	O
Standard	O
vs.	O
Wild	O
formats	O
in	O
April	O
2016	O
was	O
an	O
issue	O
that	O
the	O
developers	O
knew	O
since	O
Hearthstones	B-Application
initial	O
release	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
need	O
to	O
address	O
;	O
according	O
to	O
Brode	O
,	O
as	O
new	O
cards	O
were	O
introduced	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
they	O
recognized	O
that	O
new	O
players	O
would	O
start	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
game	O
inaccessible	O
,	O
while	O
adjusting	O
the	O
balance	O
of	O
the	O
meta-game	O
of	O
which	O
cards	O
from	O
previous	O
expansions	O
had	O
proven	O
over	O
-	O
or	O
underused	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
in	O
2020	O
and	O
ongoing	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
started	O
to	O
view	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
as	O
a	O
platform	O
for	O
multiple	O
game	O
modes	O
rather	O
than	O
fixed	O
around	O
the	O
main	O
one-on-one	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
first	O
announced	O
with	O
the	O
subtitle	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warcraft	I-Application
at	O
Penny	O
Arcade	O
Expo	O
in	O
March	O
2013	O
for	O
Windows	O
,	O
Mac	B-Device
,	O
and	O
iPad	B-Device
,	O
with	O
an	O
expected	O
release	O
date	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
11	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
available	O
on	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
macOS	B-Application
operating	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
2	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
iPad	B-Device
in	O
Australia	O
,	O
Canada	O
and	O
New	O
Zealand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
16	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
globally	O
for	O
iPads	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
August	O
6	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
touchscreen	O
devices	O
was	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
although	O
not	O
for	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
15	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
tablets	O
6	O
"	O
or	O
larger	O
in	O
Australia	O
,	O
Canada	O
and	O
New	O
Zealand	O
and	O
on	O
December	O
16	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
widely	O
released	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
tablets.Hearthstone	O
on	O
Android	B-Application
Rolls	O
Out	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
Developer	O
AMA	O
Recap	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
14	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
iPhone	O
and	O
Android	B-Application
smartphones	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Single	O
cards	O
can	O
also	O
be	O
viewed	O
full	O
screen	O
by	O
tapping	O
and	O
holding	O
on	O
a	O
specific	O
card	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
useful	O
to	O
read	O
all	O
the	O
card	O
details	O
while	O
using	O
a	O
smartphone	O
display.Say	O
Buh-bye	O
Productivity	O
:	O
Blizzard	O
Brings	O
'	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
 '	O
To	O
iOS	B-Application
And	O
Android	B-Application
Smartphones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
mark	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
,	O
Blizzard	O
released	O
the	O
Hearthsteed	O
mount	O
for	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
players	O
that	O
is	O
obtained	O
by	O
winning	O
three	O
games	O
in	O
Arena	O
or	O
Play	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Widely	O
advertised	O
on	O
various	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
websites	O
,	O
this	O
promotion	O
encourages	O
players	O
to	O
try	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
,	O
and	O
marked	O
the	O
first	O
significant	O
crossover	O
implemented	O
between	O
Blizzard	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
then	O
,	O
multiple	O
promotions	O
have	O
been	O
implemented	O
in	O
other	O
Blizzard	O
titles	O
such	O
as	O
Diablo	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reaper	I-Application
of	I-Application
Souls	I-Application
,	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
,	O
New	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
Themed	O
Card	O
Back	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
Mount	O
in	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
StarCraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Void	I-Application
PRE-PURCHASE	O
STARCRAFT	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
LEGACY	I-Application
OF	I-Application
THE	I-Application
VOID	I-Application
AND	O
PLAY	O
THE	O
“	O
WHISPERS	O
OF	O
OBLIVION	O
”	O
PROLOGUE	O
TODAY	O
Retrieved	O
July	O
15	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
and	O
Overwatch.Overwatch	O
is	O
not	O
free-to-play	O
,	O
all	O
versions	O
come	O
with	O
21	O
heroes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
alternate	O
hero	O
for	O
Shaman	B-Protocol
,	O
Morgl	O
the	O
Oracle	O
,	O
is	O
available	O
through	O
Hearthstone'''s	O
"	O
Recruit	O
A	O
Friend	O
"	O
program	O
after	O
the	O
recruited	O
friend	O
reaches	O
level	O
20	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
Blackrock	O
Mountain	O
adventure	O
,	O
each	O
expansion	O
and	O
adventure	O
have	O
introduced	O
an	O
exclusive	O
card	O
back	O
for	O
players	O
that	O
pre-ordered	O
it.Hearthstone	O
Expansion	O
Announcement	O
-	O
The	O
Grand	O
Tournament	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
Build	O
9554	O
Retrieved	O
July	O
23	O
,	O
2015.One	O
Night	O
in	O
Karazhan	O
-	O
A	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
Adventure	O
Hearthpwn	O
,	O
June	O
29	O
,	O
2016	O
The	O
Boomsday	O
Project	O
,	O
Rastakhan	O
's	O
Rumble	O
,	O
Rise	O
of	O
Shadows	O
,	O
Saviors	O
of	O
Uldum	O
,	O
Descent	O
of	O
Dragons	O
,	O
Ashes	O
of	O
Outland	O
,	O
Scholomance	O
Academy	O
,	O
Madness	O
at	O
the	O
Darkmoon	O
Faire	O
,	O
and	O
Forged	O
in	O
the	O
Barrens	O
expansions	O
each	O
offered	O
an	O
alternate	O
hero	O
portrait	O
as	O
a	O
bonus	O
for	O
ordering	O
the	O
largest	O
preorder	O
bundle	O
:	O
Mecha-Jaraxxus	O
for	O
Warlock	O
,	O
King	O
Rastakhan	O
for	O
Shaman	B-Protocol
,	O
Madame	O
Lazul	O
for	O
Priest	O
,	O
Elise	O
Starseeker	O
for	O
Druid	B-Protocol
,	O
Deathwing	O
for	O
Warrior	B-Protocol
,	O
Lady	O
Vashj	O
for	O
Shaman	B-Protocol
,	O
Kel'Thuzad	O
for	O
Mage	O
,	O
N'Zoth	O
for	O
Warlock	O
,	O
and	O
Hamuul	O
Runetotem	O
for	O
Druid	B-Protocol
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
releasing	O
the	O
Knights	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
set	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
worked	O
with	O
Dark	O
Horse	O
Comics	O
to	O
publish	O
a	O
three-issue	O
comic	O
book	O
series	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
set	O
's	O
Death	O
Knight	O
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thanks	O
to	O
the	O
designers	O
 '	O
focus	O
on	O
accessibility	O
and	O
fast-paced	O
gameplay	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
has	O
been	O
the	O
focus	O
of	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
tournaments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
the	O
focus	O
of	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
other	O
tournaments	O
during	O
its	O
closed	O
beta	O
,	O
including	O
those	O
hosted	O
by	O
Major	O
League	O
Gaming	O
and	O
ESL	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2014	O
,	O
The	O
esports	O
organization	O
Tespa	O
announced	O
the	O
Collegiate	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
Open	O
,	O
a	O
free-to-enter	O
tournament	O
open	O
to	O
all	O
North	O
American	O
college	O
students	O
,	O
featuring	O
$	O
5,000	O
in	O
scholarships	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Major	O
League	O
Gaming	O
,	O
Major	O
League	O
Gaming	O
's	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
Tournament	O
Page	O
,	O
Retrieved	O
on	O
January	O
11	O
,	O
2014	O
ESLESL	O
's	O
American	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
League	O
page	O
,	O
Retrieved	O
on	O
January	O
11	O
,	O
2014	O
and	O
the	O
ZOTAC	O
Cup	O
all	O
continue	O
to	O
regularly	O
host	O
minor	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
leagues	O
in	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
and	O
European	O
territories	O
with	O
small	O
or	O
no	O
prize	O
pools	O
aimed	O
at	O
everyday	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2014	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
the	O
first	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
World	O
Championship	O
would	O
be	O
held	O
at	O
BlizzCon	O
on	O
November	O
7	O
–	O
8	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
World	O
Championship	O
2014	O
featured	O
a	O
total	O
prize	O
pool	O
of	O
$250	O
,	O
000	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
American	O
winner	O
,	O
James	O
"	O
Firebat	O
"	O
Kostesich	O
,	O
received	O
$	O
100,000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
World	O
Championship	O
was	O
held	O
at	O
BlizzCon	O
2015	O
on	O
November	O
7	O
with	O
players	O
selected	O
in	O
a	O
similar	O
way	O
in	O
the	O
previous	O
year	O
and	O
it	O
was	O
played	O
in	O
the	O
best-of-five	O
conquest	O
format	O
;	O
the	O
Swede	O
winner	O
,	O
Sebastian	O
"	O
Ostkaka	O
"	O
Engwall	O
,	O
received	O
$	O
100,000	O
.Swedish	O
player	O
Ostkaka	O
wins	O
the	O
2015	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
World	O
Championship	O
at	O
BlizzCon	O
November	O
7	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fifth	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
World	O
Championship	O
took	O
place	O
in	O
April	O
2019	O
and	O
was	O
held	O
in	O
Taipei	B-Application
;	O
the	O
winner	O
was	O
Norwegian	O
Casper	O
"	O
Hunterace	O
"	O
Notto	O
that	O
received	O
$	O
250,000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
Grandmasters	O
Global	O
Finals	O
was	O
held	O
at	O
BlizzCon	O
2019	O
;	O
the	O
Chinese	O
winner	O
was	O
Xiaomeng	O
"	O
VKLiooon	O
"	O
Li	O
that	O
received	O
$	O
200,000	O
;	O
VKLiooon	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
woman	O
to	O
win	O
the	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
World	O
Championship	O
and	O
to	O
also	O
win	O
any	O
BlizzCon	O
tournament	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
seventh	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
World	O
Championship	O
winner	O
was	O
Japanese	O
Kenta	O
"	O
Glory	O
"	O
Sato	O
that	O
received	O
$	O
200,000	O
.Hearthstone	O
has	O
also	O
been	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
esport	O
demonstration	O
events	O
at	O
international	O
competitions	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
2017	O
Asian	O
Indoor	O
and	O
Martial	O
Arts	O
Games	O
and	O
2018	O
Asian	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
ReceptionHearthstone	O
received	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
on	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
reviews	O
for	O
PC	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	O
aggregator	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
the	O
perfect	O
score	O
of	O
10	O
and	O
remarked	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
"	O
overflowing	O
with	O
character	O
and	O
imagination	O
,	O
feeds	O
off	O
and	O
fuels	O
a	O
vibrant	O
community	O
of	O
players	O
and	O
performers	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
only	O
stands	O
to	O
improve	O
as	O
Blizzard	O
introduces	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
an	O
iPad	B-Device
version	O
and	O
expansions.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
card	O
expansions	O
have	O
also	O
been	O
well	O
received	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
rated	O
the	O
Curse	O
of	O
Naxxramas	O
expansion	O
9/10	O
,	O
stating	O
"	O
Naxxramas	O
is	O
an	O
excellent	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
core	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
exploration	O
of	O
sorts	O
to	O
examine	O
the	O
potential	O
for	O
additional	O
single-player	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
content	O
 [ ... ] 	O
the	O
adventure	O
provides	O
a	O
substantial	O
amount	O
of	O
new	O
content	O
that	O
spills	O
over	O
into	O
ranked	O
,	O
casual	O
,	O
and	O
arena	O
mode	O
and	O
changes	O
how	O
you	O
approach	O
the	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Reception	O
for	O
Goblins	O
vs	O
Gnomes	O
has	O
also	O
been	O
positive	O
,	O
with	O
Game	O
Informer	O
writing	O
"	O
the	O
first	O
expansion	O
set	O
for	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
is	O
a	O
major	O
step	O
forward	O
for	O
the	O
already	O
accessible	O
and	O
fun	O
game	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
awarding	O
it	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
9.25/10	O
,	O
while	O
Eurogamer	O
scored	O
it	O
an	O
8/10	O
,	O
writing	O
"	O
whatever	O
happens	O
to	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
in	O
the	O
future	O
,	O
the	O
new	O
content	O
has	O
stumbled	O
a	O
little	O
by	O
strengthening	O
certain	O
deck	O
archetypes	B-Language
that	O
needed	O
no	O
such	O
help	O
 [ ... ] 	O
it	O
's	O
re-introduced	O
a	O
thoughtfulness	O
to	O
play	O
that	O
's	O
been	O
absent	O
for	O
too	O
long.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Commentators	O
have	O
noted	O
that	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
can	O
suffer	O
from	O
"	O
pay	O
to	O
win	O
"	O
mechanics	O
,	O
that	O
those	O
that	O
invest	O
monetarily	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
get	O
new	O
cards	O
and	O
packs	O
have	O
generally	O
a	O
better	O
chance	O
of	O
winning	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
is	O
possible	O
to	O
be	O
successful	O
without	O
spending	O
money	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
class-action	O
lawsuit	O
was	O
brought	O
against	O
Blizzard	O
in	O
May	O
2022	O
,	O
asserting	O
that	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
encourages	O
minors	O
to	O
spend	O
non-refundable	O
money	O
on	O
card	O
packs	O
as	O
to	O
try	O
to	O
get	O
the	O
rarer	O
cards	O
,	O
which	O
violates	O
the	O
California	O
Family	O
Code	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
September	O
2014	O
,	O
there	O
were	O
more	O
than	O
20	O
million	O
registered	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
players	O
and	O
by	O
January	O
2015	O
,	O
there	O
were	O
more	O
than	O
25	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
June	O
2015	O
,	O
the	O
active	O
players	O
were	O
estimated	O
to	O
be	O
about	O
eight	O
million	O
PC	O
players	O
and	O
nine	O
million	O
mobile	O
device	O
players	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
overlap	O
between	O
each	O
group.Hearthstone	O
Makes	O
$20	O
Million	O
Per	O
Month	O
As	O
CCG	O
Market	O
Grows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
November	O
2018	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
stated	O
that	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
had	O
achieved	O
over	O
100	O
million	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
6	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
Activision	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
that	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
and	O
Destiny	B-Application
generated	O
nearly	O
in	O
revenue	O
for	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
SuperData	O
Research	O
,	O
in	O
June	O
2015	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
generated	O
about	O
$20	O
million	O
in	O
revenue	O
during	O
that	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
KeyBanc	O
Capital	O
Markets	O
estimates	O
that	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
generates	O
an	O
annual	O
revenue	O
of	O
worldwide	O
,	O
.Hearthstone	O
has	O
proved	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
popular	O
game	O
to	O
stream	O
and	O
watch	O
on	O
services	O
like	O
Twitch	O
;	O
Hearthstone-based	O
streams	O
overtook	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
streams	O
to	O
become	O
the	O
third-most	O
watched	O
game	O
on	O
the	O
platform	O
in	O
September	O
2015	O
and	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
fourth-most	O
watched	O
game	O
in	O
April	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2017	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
still	O
the	O
fourth-most	O
watched	O
game	O
while	O
nearly	O
matching	O
Dota	B-Application
2s	I-Application
hours	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Forbes	O
awarded	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
as	O
the	O
best	O
digital	B-Application
card	I-Application
game	I-Application
of	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2014	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
awarded	O
the	O
best	O
mobile/handheld	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2014	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
awarded	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
with	O
mobile	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameTrailers	O
awarded	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
with	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
and	O
best	O
overall	O
game	O
of	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
18th	O
Annual	O
DICE	O
Awards	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
was	O
awarded	O
with	O
"	O
Mobile	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Strategy/Simulation	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
nominations	O
for	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Outstanding	O
Achievement	O
in	O
Game	O
Design	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Outstanding	O
Innovation	O
in	O
Gaming	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Outstanding	O
Achievement	O
in	O
Online	B-Application
Gameplay	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2014	O
BAFTA	O
Awards	O
,	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
won	O
best	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2014	O
NAVGTR	O
Awards	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
won	O
the	O
Game	O
,	O
Strategy	O
(	O
Dan	O
Elggren	O
)	O
award	O
.	O
</s>
