Hearthstone
News, coverage and analysis tracking Hearthstone across the outlets.
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Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers ratify first union contract with Microsoft
Blizzard Entertainment employees, represented by newly formed unions, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with parent company Microsoft. The contract, lasting four to five years, includes protections for generative AI use, crediting, remote work, and layoffs, establishing a 60-day notice period for job cuts and 14 months of recall rights. Meanwhile, Activision's subsidiary King has rejected a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish trade unions.
Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers vote through a "historic" union contract securing protections against layoffs and gen-AI
Approximately 1,900 unionized workers at Blizzard Entertainment have ratified their first contract, securing protections against layoffs and mandating bargaining over the use of generative AI. This historic agreement provides enhanced severance and recall rights for employees across multiple game teams, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.
Unionised Blizzard workers vote through contract giving them a say on genAI adoption and protection against layoffs
Unionized Blizzard Entertainment workers have ratified a new contract that requires the company to negotiate with them over the use of generative AI tools and provides protections against layoffs. The contract covers approximately 1900 staff and includes provisions for recall rights for laid-off employees and additional severance pay. This development occurs amidst ongoing workforce reductions at Microsoft's gaming division.
BlizzCon 2026 Preview: We’re So Back! | Official XBOX Podcast
The Official Xbox Podcast features a preview of BlizzCon 2026, with Blizzard's Senior Director of Global Events, Kiersten Crissman, detailing the upcoming event. BlizzCon 2026 will take place on September 12th and 13th in Anaheim, offering both in-person and online experiences with expanded programming, larger venues, and returning fan favorites like the Darkmoon Faire and Hearthstone Tavern. The event will also heavily feature esports competitions, including the Overwatch World Cup, and will be free to watch via livestream on official Blizzard channels.
The MOP Up: Hearthstone hosts Azeroth’s Most Wanted
Hearthstone's Patch 36.4 introduces new Class Sets, an Arena season, and event rewards. This roundup also covers updates and events from various other games including No Man's Sky, Grim Dawn, ARC Raiders, Diablo, and Myth of Empires: Throne. Ubisoft is forming a player council for testing, and Thatgamecompany is expanding its publishing efforts.
Hearthstone Is Dropping Untold Stories through Azeroth’s Most Wanted Class Sets
Hearthstone is introducing new Azeroth's Most Wanted Class Sets focusing on criminals and troublemakers, with prequel sets detailing the backstory of the Escape from Violet Hold. These sets feature seven cards each for Priest, Rogue, Warlock, and Warrior classes, including new Legendary cards and mechanics.
The MOP Up: Profane puts out a new rolling roadmap
Several MMOs have shared updates and roadmaps, including Profane's new development plan focusing on two-month highlights, and Odin: Valhalla Rising's roadmap for the latter half of 2026. Subnautica 2 launched a new beta branch for testing, Palia's Insect-a-Palooza event returned, and EVE Online banned over 10,000 accounts for dark web links. Additionally, Grand Theft Auto VI leak participants were cautioned against, BitCraft is closing its Uncharted Regions, and AdventureQuest 3D released new moon-themed mounts.
Ranking the 12 Greatest Blizzard Games of All Time
This article ranks the 12 greatest games developed by Blizzard Entertainment, highlighting titles like Starcraft, Diablo 2, and Overwatch for their lasting impact and innovative gameplay. It discusses Blizzard's history of creating enduring titles, many of which utilize live service models and continue to receive expansions and updates.
The MOP Up: Elder Scrolls Online’s Whitestrake’s Mayhem PvP event rages
The Whitestrake's Mayhem in-game event has returned to Elder Scrolls Online, offering bonus rewards for player-versus-player activities until August 12th. The article also rounds up other recent MMO news, including Palworld's player count, SMITE 2's upcoming god releases, and cross-promotions between Helldivers 2 and Warhammer 40,000.
The MOP Up: Dark Age of Camelot rotates its Sigilbound Frontiers event
Dark Age of Camelot's Sigilbound Frontiers event is live until August 13th, featuring a Sigilbreaker boss spawn. Other MMO news includes Hearthstone's new battleground season, updates for World War II Online and MapleStory Idle RPG, a Palworld card game, War Thunder adjustments, Apex Legends' Marked season, and details on Scars of Honor's First Watch system.
Blizzard avtäcker sina kosmetiska Blizzcon-paket
Blizzard Entertainment will host BlizzCon on September 12-13, 2024, and will livestream the event for free. Instead of digital tickets, the company is selling cosmetic bundles for games like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo 4, with prices ranging from $25 to $50.
Hearthstone’s Escape from Violet Hold set gets major balance tuning in reaction to a shaken meta
Blizzard Entertainment has released Patch 36.0.3 for Hearthstone to address balance issues introduced by the Escape from Violet Hold expansion. The patch aims to improve class and deck diversity, which had become lower than desired, particularly at high ranks. Adjustments have been made to regular play, Arena, and Battlegrounds modes, with a new Dark Gifts mechanic teased for the next Battlegrounds season.
Recension – Blizzard avtäcker sina kosmetiska Blizzcon-paket
Blizzard Entertainment will host BlizzCon on September 12-13, 2024, and will livestream the event for free. Instead of digital tickets, the company is selling BlizzCon Bundles containing cosmetic items for World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal, Hearthstone, StarCraft II, and Heroes of the Storm, with prices ranging from $25 to $50.
Blizzard is giving away free StarCraft and Heroes of the Storm digital goodies ahead of BlizzCon
Blizzard Entertainment is offering free in-game items for StarCraft II and Heroes of the Storm until September 28th. Players can claim a 15-day XP boost for StarCraft II and the Fix It Gear Head Thrall for Heroes of the Storm. These promotions coincide with the sale of BlizzCon digital bundles for various Blizzard titles, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Diablo IV, and Diablo Immortal.
If You Aren’t Going To BlizzCon 2026, You Can Still Spend Money Like You Are
Blizzard Entertainment is offering digital BlizzCon bundles for its major live-service games, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo IV, Diablo Immortal, and Hearthstone, for players who cannot attend BlizzCon 2026. These bundles, available until September 28, range from $25 to $30 individually, with an Ultimate Collection bundle priced at $50. Blizzard president Johanna Faries anticipates 2026 will be a significant year for the company, with potential announcements regarding World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, Overwatch, and possibly a new StarCraft game.
StarCraft 2 is included in Blizzard's BlizzCon digital goodies, which is more evidence a new game will be announced…
Blizzard Entertainment is offering free in-game items for StarCraft 2 and Heroes of the Storm as part of its BlizzCon digital goodies, fueling speculation about a new StarCraft game announcement. This follows a significant update to StarCraft 2 and a previous job posting for a lead designer on an 'AAA open-world shooter' using Unreal Engine, suggesting a potential shift for the franchise.
Blizzard reveals BlizzCon 2026 digital bundles
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed details about digital bundles that will be available for purchase during BlizzCon 2026, starting September 12. These bundles will include in-game items for popular titles such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal, and Hearthstone, with a special Ultimate Collection Bundle also being offered.
What lessons have developers learned from external development?
External development studios emphasize the critical importance of trust and clear communication with clients, often valuing these over raw talent. Key lessons learned include aligning visions, being adaptable to client workflows, adding value beyond basic tasks, specializing in core competencies, and continuously updating technology and processes. Careful scaling and scope discipline are also vital for long-term success in the external development sector.
Evening Reading - July 14, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading from Shacknews covers various gaming industry updates, including pre-order guides for Halo: Campaign Evolved and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves DLC. It also reports on Ubisoft Barcelona developer strikes over layoffs, a delay for the PlayStation FlexStrike Fight Stick, and the retirement of Dead Space creator Glen Schofield. Additionally, the article touches on non-gaming news regarding data centers and healthcare.
How Hearthstone threw out the rulebook for Escape from Violet Hold
Hearthstone's Team 5 discusses the design philosophy behind the 'rule breaker' mechanics introduced in the Escape from Violet Hold expansion. Initial Design Lead Cora Georgiou and Senior Game Designer Edward Goodwin explain how they subverted established game rules to create new deck-building opportunities and exciting gameplay experiences, while also detailing some mechanics that were ultimately cut.
