Summary
On December 9, Blizzard releasedHeroes of the StormPatch 55.8, which brought changes to the game’s home screen, some new cosmetic shop bundles, and adjustments to character talents and skills. The newHeroes of the Stormpatch went live after spending a month on the Public Test Realm (PTR), where players submitted feedback ahead of its release.
Originally released in June 2015,Heroes of the Stormis Blizzard’s multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title, which features playable characters from theWarcraft,Starcraft,Diablo, andOverwatchfranchises. Two teams of five players face off on a rotating selection of maps, such asOverwatch’s Hanamura Temple orWarcraft’s Alterac Valley, and matches can be decided quickly compared to other MOBA games likeLeague of Legends. However, after seven years of continuous updates,Heroes of the Stormwent into maintenance modein July 2022.
Months afterHeroes of the Stormlaunched a big balance patch, more changes were made by Blizzard following a round of PTR testing. Some of Patch 55.8’s main changes were focused on Samuro’s Mirror Image ability. Mirror Images can no longer be targeted if launched by abilities like Artanis' Phase Prism, and can no longer be used to mirror the Hearthstone or Mount commands back to Samuro when selected. Samuro’s Critical Strike trait was also adjusted to activate while a basic attack is ongoing, rather than carry over to the next swing. Another Hero that received major attention was D.Va, as her Defense Matrix ability and different talents were buffed across the board. Imperius' level 10 talent, Wrath of the Angiris, was reworked to deal extra damage per Valorous Brand, and Greymane’s level 16 talent, Executioner, was replaced by Lord Of His Pack, which deals extra damage to enemies that are stunned, slowed, or rooted.
The newHeroes of the Stormupdate came at an interesting time for Blizzard and its player base. Weeks after the launch ofDiablo 4: Vessel of Hatred,fans petitioned Blizzard to addHeroes of the Stormto Steamto drive up player participation and potentially revive the game. At the time of writing,Heroes of the Stormremains exclusive to the Battle.net Launcher.
Despite receiving no more major content updates,Heroes of the Stormcontinues to receive balance updates every few months. As fans continue topush forHeroes of the Stormto make a full comeback, it remains to be seen what Blizzard will do in the future.
Heroes of the Storm
WHERE TO PLAY
This free-to-play online team brawler assembles a diverse cast of characters from Blizzard’s far-flung realms of science fiction and fantasy, including the Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo universes, and challenges them to compete in epic, adrenaline-charged battles.Thrall, Kerrigan, Diablo, Arthas, Zeratul, Tyrael—they’re all here and ready to test their might in the forge of eternal combat. Who will stand with you in battle? Build and customize heroes from across every Blizzard universe to suit your play style. Team up with your friends and engage in fast-paced mayhem across battlegrounds that impact strategy and change the way you play the game.Good players win. Great ones win while dressed to kill. Distinguish yourself in battle with dozens of unique heroes, skins, and mounts, then customize your hero’s talents and choose heroic abilities.The game features an array of gameplay modes for players of every skill level, including Cooperative, in which players team up against computer-controlled opponents, and Quick Match, an accessible way to jump in and play versus others. Experienced players can also join forces against other teams of players in highly competitive, draft-style ranked play.
