Hearthstone
News, coverage and analysis tracking Hearthstone across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Valesong is John Smedley’s new four-player fantasy CCG made with AI
Distinct Possibility Studios has announced Valesong, a new four-player fantasy collectible card game led by John Smedley, which utilizes AI in its development. The game, described as similar to Magic the Gathering's commander format and Hearthstone, will launch on Discord on October 29th with PC and mobile versions planned later. Smedley defends the studio's use of AI, stating it allows for rapid iteration and enables smaller companies to compete.
Hearthstone lets players command old gods and assemble new minions with its newly released expansion
Hearthstone's new expansion, Reign of the Black Empire, has been released, introducing four new Old God cards (C'Thun, N'Zoth, Yogg-Saron, Y'Shaarj) with unique abilities. The expansion also features the 'assemble' keyword for combining minions, Titan-forged cards, a new tavern pass, arena updates, and the start of the journey feature.
Evening Reading - October 20, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including updates for Cyberpunk 2077 and EVE Online, a potential delay for Umamusume: Pretty Derby due to immigration policies, and the announcement of a new Deadlock update. It also touches on financial news for Tesla, SpaceX, and Netflix, and mentions the potential for a 2027 Xbox handheld.
Hearthstone: Reign of the Black Empire - 10 decks to try on Day 1
Hearthstone: Reign of the Black Empire has launched, introducing 145 new cards and a new mechanic. This guide presents ten decks from professional players and streamers to try on day one, covering various classes and strategies including Mech Hunter, C'Thun Warlock, Manastorm Mage, Egg Demon Hunter, Holy Paladin, Combo Rogue, Yogg Druid, Blood Death Knight, Armor Control Warrior, and Blade Priest.
WRUP: Eliot is missing edition
The Massively OP staff and community share their weekend gaming plans, with mentions of City of Heroes, Guardians of the Galaxy, Final Fantasy XIV, and Warframe. Several staff members also discuss games or media they were disappointed by after high expectations, including Guardians of the Galaxy and the original Halloween film.
Hearthstone is full of "tall tales," but that leaves room for limitless narrative possibilities
Hearthstone's narrative approach, characterized by 'tall tales' told in taverns, allows for limitless storytelling possibilities within the Warcraft universe. Executive Producer Nathan Lyons-Smith and Lead Game Designer Brendan Sewell discussed how the upcoming 'Reign of the Black Empire' expansion and the new Journal feature will tie narratives together cohesively, serving both core and new players.
Hearthstone offers a close look at its all-encompassing journey journal
Hearthstone is introducing a new 'journey journal' feature on October 13th, which will serve as a central hub for expansions, bringing together story, quests, rewards, and events. The first chapter, 'The Road to Ny’alotha,' will unfold over seven weeks, offering new story content and weekly quests that award card packs for the upcoming 'Reign of the Black Empire' expansion.
Hearthstone's new 2v2 battles won't be perfectly balanced. Instead, Blizzard wants you to "go have fun"
Hearthstone is introducing a new 2v2 battles mode, which Blizzard acknowledges will not be perfectly balanced at launch. The mode will initially be tested in Tavern Brawls, allowing players and developers to experiment and identify overpowered strategies. While the team plans to address balance issues quickly, they encourage players to "go have fun" and explore broken decks during the experimental phase.
Super Auto Pets-Like Lunchbreak Tactics Launches on Android
Borealys Games has launched Lunchbreak Tactics, a strategic auto-battler card game, on Android. Inspired by titles like Super Auto Pets and Hearthstone, the game tasks players with becoming the 'Ultimate Slacker' by using supermarket items as units in asynchronous battles. A free-to-play lite version is available, with a full unlock costing $5.99.
From WoW and MTG Addicts to the Keepers of the Tavern in Hearthstone
Executive Producer Nathan Lyons-Smith and Sr. Design Manager Brenden Sewell discuss how their experiences playing World of Warcraft and collectible card games like Magic the Gathering influenced their design work on Hearthstone. They share insights into how their backgrounds shaped the development of Blizzard Entertainment's popular digital card game.
Evening Reading - September 25, 2026
This week's gaming news roundup includes reviews for Ace Combat 8: Wings of the Hawk and Fareidolia, updates on Hell is Us and Dawngazer, and details on Hearthstone card reveals and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. The article also highlights new Shackmaps content, weekend download deals, and a live performance celebrating Hades II's anniversary.
Shack Chat: What was your favorite reveal from BlizzCon 2026?
Shacknews staff members shared their favorite reveals from BlizzCon 2026, with StarCraft being a prominent topic of discussion. Announcements included the Monk class for Hearthstone, a new StarCraft shooter, and details on Diablo 5 and Overwatch.
The Daily Grind: What was or is your favorite digital card game?
The author discusses their favorite digital card game, Marvel Snap, which they play daily on their iPad. They also poll the Massively OP community about their favorite digital card games, mentioning Hearthstone and older SOE titles.
Evening Reading - September 17, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of game reviews including Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. It also highlights the announcement of Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album, Dragon Quest series sales milestones, and the potential shutdown of Hyper Light Drifter's developer. The reading includes various internet curiosities and a brief mention of economic topics.
Not So Massively: Reacting to the Not So Massively news of BlizzCon 2026
BlizzCon 2026 featured surprising announcements for several Blizzard titles, including a new hero for Heroes of the Storm and a significant expansion for Warcraft III: Reforged titled The Forsaken Kingdom. The event also revealed Diablo V, signaling a move away from Diablo IV, and a new StarCraft shooter, though details were scarce. Overwatch received a new hero and reworks, while Hearthstone announced a new expansion.
Hearthstone “Reign Of The Black Empire” Card Reveal – G’huun And Death Knight Control
Hearthstone's upcoming expansion, Reign of the Black Empire, will feature new Death Knight cards with a focus on control and life-leeching effects. Exclusive reveals include Grafted Knight, Bloodfiend, and the powerful legendary G'huun, which can steal health from enemies and potentially serve as a finisher. The expansion is set to launch on October 20.
Experiencing BlizzCon 2026 and the returns of Starcraft, Diablo, and Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment celebrated the return of BlizzCon with numerous announcements, including World of Warcraft: Forever, a new Starcraft open-world shooter, Diablo 5, and updates for Warcraft 3 and Overwatch. The event also highlighted the company's integration as a Microsoft subsidiary and celebrated anniversaries for Overwatch and Diablo.
"What would a WoW 2 give you that World of Warcraft: Forever isn't already giving you?" - Blizzard addresses the MMO elephant in the room
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed World of Warcraft: Forever, a reimagined version of the original game with new content and improved graphics, rather than a direct sequel. Executives Holly Longdale and Kris Zierhut explained that the existing engine and ongoing development of World of Warcraft make a sequel unnecessary and potentially less viable than evolving the current game. The company also mentioned future plans for Diablo 5 and a StarCraft shooter, while acknowledging the challenges and costs associated with creating a WoW sequel.
Evening Reading - September 14, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Marvel's Wolverine and Final Fantasy 7, details on Diablo 5's release window, and the shelving of The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod at Sony's request. It also touches on the Steam Deck pre-order availability and mentions the use of AI in content creation.
Hearthstone devs discuss Reign of the Black Empire, the Monk, and that one StarCraft mini-set
Hearthstone developers Nathan Lyons-Smith and Brenden Sewell discussed the upcoming expansion Reign of the Black Empire, the new Monk class debuting in March 2027, and the 'Assemble' keyword. They also touched on the new 'Journey' feature for storytelling and the possibility of future StarCraft-themed mini-sets.
