![]() Hearthstone is available now for Mobile and PC.Blizzard Entertainment's online collectible card game Hearthstone became played professionally quickly after its release in March 2014. Hopefully, Hearthstone revenue doesn't start to decline so fans can keep enjoying the TCG - and its esports events - for years to come. As a live-service game, the possibility of Hearthstone entering maintenance mode is ever-present and only increases with every year. Nevertheless, Hearthstone is inching towards its 10-year anniversary. Even if its esports program vanishes completely, Hearthstone should continue to add new content. Competitive players ultimately make up a miniscule fraction of the playerbase, and average fans may not even watch the events. But regardless of the success of its esports program, Hearthstone seems to be flourishing. In the past, Hearthstone has sold special bundles of cards and cosmetics to raise money for esports prize pools, and bringing these back would be a great way to let fans support Hearthstone. It is possible that a windfall of support for Hearthstone esports could revive the program, so fans should tune in to show their support. While Blizzard did not confirm any esports plans for 2024, it said, “The new program is sized for sustainability as Hearthstone Esports turns 10." Clearly Blizzard hopes to continue Hearthstone esports into the future, and with its exclusivity deal with YouTube now over, esports competitions for Hearthstone can be streamed on Twitch again, which will hopefully expand viewership. The TCG still makes millions of dollars for Blizzard, so as long as it continues to be profitable, Blizzard will continue to support it even if the esports scene goes away. It confirmed the game still has long-term plans, including the recent Hearthstone Creator Program. ![]() In its 2023 esports announcement, Blizzard said the scope and success of Hearthstone and its esports program are separate. That said, there is no reason to start panicking about Hearthstone quite yet. RELATED: Microsoft Should Revive Heroes of the Storm If the lack of a professional competitive scene drains interest and revenue from Hearthstone, new content could likewise start to slow - or even stop completely. With no confirmation of a 2024 esports season for Hearthstone, many players fear it may end official esports events altogether like with Heroes of the Storm. Hearthstone might be headed down the same road. Though the game is still playable and has a modest community, Heroes of the Storm is no longer receiving new content. Over the next several years, Blizzard gradually weaned off support for Heroes of the Storm until finally putting it into maintenance mode in July 2022. In 2018, Blizzard brought an end to official esports events for Heroes of the Storm, its MOBA competitor to League of Legends and Dota 2. This year’s comparatively weak esports itinerary could spell trouble for the future of Hearthstone. Meanwhile, its absence can lead to stagnation in the competitive scene. Some esports events create truly memorable moments, and competing for prize pools breathe life into many PvP games. If this year’s events don’t do well, it wouldn't be surprising if Hearthstone cuts the program entirely. Many professional players are already deciding not to compete this year, on top of the Chinese Hearthstone servers being are indefinitely closed. The dissolution of Blizzard and NetEase's partnership almost certainly played a factor too, considering China often had a big representation at Hearthstone events. Over the last three years, Hearthstone had a special deal with YouTube that restricted its events to the streaming platform, which restricted viewership. ![]() There are several factors that likely played into the gutting of Hearthstone esports in 2023. For comparison, last year’s events had a total of $3 million available through different competitions. The World Championship has a prize pool of $500,000, and each Battlegrounds: Lobby Legends has a prize pool of $50,000, for a grand total of $650,000. What's more, the total prize pool for Hearthstone esports is significantly less than in 2022. The Masters Tours will also have no prize pool at all, meaning the only incentive to participate is the chance to qualify for the World Championship. This year, there are only seven events three Masters Tour Seasonal Championships, three Battlegrounds: Lobby Legends, and the 2023 World Championship. Last year, there were over a dozen competitive events, each with their own individual prize pools. The esports scene in Hearthstone for 2023 is much thinner than it was in 2022.
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