Blizzard Unveils Hearthstone Battlegrounds Duos: A Cooperative Twist on the Competitive Card Game Mode

Blizzard has revealed a new twist to its competitive card game, Hearthstone. The popular side mode, Battlegrounds, is set to receive an update in early 2024, introducing a cooperative version called Hearthstone Battlegrounds Duos. The new mode was showcased at BlizzCon 2023 and allows players to team up with another player to strategize and compete against other teams.

In Battlegrounds, players purchase minions, choose their attack order, and use their hero's powers to outlast opponents and reduce their shared health bar to zero. Battlegrounds Duos takes this gameplay mechanic and introduces another player to the mix, making it a cooperative experience. The goal for teams of two is to strategically construct turns, ensuring their minions outlast opponents and deal damage to the other team. The mode offers exclusive heroes and minions, as well as a new ping system for communication.

The idea for Battlegrounds Duos originated during a hackathon event held by the Hearthstone development team. After experimenting with various mechanics, Blizzard decided to turn it into a full-fledged mode. The decision to stick with Duos instead of expanding to Trios or Quads was made to maintain simplicity in strategy. The developers wanted to create an experience that felt familiar yet introduced a new dynamic to the game.

The compatibility of existing minions in Battlegrounds Duos was also addressed by the developers. They explained that the Solo Battlegrounds minions would be a subset of what's available in Duos. Exclusive minions and heroes introduced in Duos will not be available in Solos, but all Solos minions will be available in Duos. Blizzard also mentioned the possibility of banning Solo cards from Battlegrounds Duos after the mode's launch.

Blizzard aims to make Battlegrounds Duos a long-term mode that attracts new players to Hearthstone and the popular side mode. The introduction of new heroes and minions is planned, with the developers stating that the currently revealed heroes are just the beginning. By creating a cooperative experience, Blizzard hopes to make it easier for newcomers to learn the game with the help of friends and shared excitement.

Hearthstone is available on PC, iOS, and Android, with Battlegrounds Duos set to be added in early 2024.