Blizzard has revealed a major update is coming for Hearthstone Battlegrounds, with the introduction of a highly-anticipated co-op "Duos" game mode. This announcement comes as Hearthstone approaches the milestone of a decade of dealing cards.
Cora Georgiou, Hearthstone's lead director, unveiled the new Duos mode during BlizzCon 2023's opening ceremony. As part of her presentation, she showcased how the Duos game mode will work, with players pairing up to fight in 2v2 battles with brand-new mechanics and some interesting twists on the usual gameplay formula.
Hearthstone Battlegrounds is an auto-battler game mode within Hearthstone, where eight players face off in mini 1v1 matches to compete to be the last player standing. The game has its own unique set of cards, independent from those used in base-game Hearthstone.
In Duos matches, players will face new challenges, with a shared health pool, the ability to pass cards to one another, and team-focused combat, bringing a fresh twist to the Battlegrounds formula. While attendees at BlizzCon will be able to get a firsthand glimpse of the mode at the event, the wider Hearthstone community will have to wait until early 2024 to team up with friends in Hearthstone Battlegrounds' co-op mode.
Blizzard's presentation for Hearthstone also contained exciting features for both new and returning players, with the reveal of "catch-up packs". These packs promise a varying count of cards, ranging from 5 to 50, depending on the player's current collection size.
Aimed at equalizing the playing field, these packs will feature cards from the last five Standard expansions, including Voyage to the Sunken City and March of the Lich King. They'll be distributed for free and as part of the next Hearthstone expansion's preorder bonuses, in an attempt to invite more players into Hearthstone's ever-expanding card universe.
Also within the presentation, Blizzard gave fans another look at the upcoming Showdown in the Badlands expansion for Hearthstone. Releasing on on November 14, this Wild West-themed adventure includes almost 150 new cards, including the debut of a neutral hero card featuring the iconic Reno Jackson.
With the Duos mode in Battlegrounds and the Showdown in the Badlands expansion, Hearthstone seems geared up to offer its fans a host of new content and ways to play, whether they're seasoned card-slingers or fresh-faced duelists.
Preorders for the new expansion are currently open for players wanting to get their hands on the recently announced catch-up packs.