Blizzard finally launches Hearthstone for Android Phones

While we had to wait a long time to get Hearthstone for Android tablets, Blizzard saw fit to deliver the goods to phones at the same time as our iPhone-toting counterparts. Hearthstone has finally been  adapted for the smaller screen.

It’s the same game you’ve come to love, and you’ll play with the same account, cards and decks no matter which device you use. You’ll also play people who are on other platforms or types of devices. That’s the great benefit of a turn-based game.

The only difference? Everything has been compressed in a way that makes card slinging a breeze. It’ll take a bit of getting used to if you’ve played the PC and tablet versions often, but the experience is familiar and intuitive enough that you’ll pick up on it within a matter of seconds.

Oh, and fair warning to employers: expect your Hearthstone-loving employees’ productivity to hit an all-time low. Grab the download from Google Play right here. Amazon Appstore users will find it right here. PS: If you’re starved for cards, you can get a free pack for simply playing a match on your phone, so be sure to take advantage.

[via Blizzard]

Hearthstone is getting an awesome new game mode for the first time in next update

Hearthstone fans, rejoice! Arena, Ranked and Casual play are no longer the only three ways to have fun in the collectible card game. Blizzard has announced a great new update that will add Tavern Brawl.

Tavern Brawl is a new game mode where Blizzard sets some whacky conditions for building decks, as well as possibly changing card texts or increasing (and even decreasing) life totals. It’s a fun way to play the game that has been featured by many third-party tournaments in the past, so we’re glad to see Blizzard incorporating something into the game as standard.

The way it works is Blizzard will set up a new “Brawl” each week, with global parameters being applied to everyone who enters. One week might be building a deck where you can’t use any class cards, while next week you could see a zero mana cost Dr. Boom. Crazy, I know. Blizzard hasn’t yet fully detailed the rewards you get for participating in brawls, though they did note that the mode will be free to start (indicating there may be a pay wall — whether you have to use gold or real money — down the line).

Other changes coming as part of patch 2.7 include the ability to set card backs for individual decks, as well as buying (for .99, no other option) and using the new alternate heroes. These heroes won’t have different class cards or mechanics, but you do get a new face to look at, new emotes and possibly new hero power animations. You can see the Warrior’s new hero — Magni Bronzebeard — in the video ahead.

So when’s it all arriving? Blizzard’s only timeline was “mid-June,” which isn’t very long. We’d hope it’s in time for the weekend, though knowing Blizzard we’re likely to see it around Monday or Tuesday.

[via Blizzard]