Is Hearthstone An Esport?

Hearthstone is a popular digital card game from Blizzard Entertainment. Many people enjoy playing the game, but is it an esport?

Introduction

Hearthstone is a free-to-play online digital collectible card game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Released in March 2014, Hearthstone builds upon the already existing lore of the Warcraft series by using the same elements, characters, and relics. It was initially subtitled Heroes of Warcraft, but was later renamed to Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft.

Hearthstone is a turn-based card game between two opponents, using constructed decks of thirty cards along with a selected hero with a unique power. Players use mana points to cast spells or summon minions to attack the opponent, with the goal to reduce the opponent’s health to zero. Winning matches can earn in-game gold and rewards in the form of new cards. These can be obtained through purchasing packs or as rewards from specific game modes. Players can also disenchant unwanted cards into arcane dust, which can then be used to “craft” new cards of their choice; therefore, any class can eventually have access to any available card through crafting.

What is an eSport?

eSports, also known as electronic sports, competitive (video) gaming, professional (video) gaming, or pro gaming, is a form of competition using video games. Most commonly, esports take the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players and teams. Although organized online and offline competitions have long been a part of video game culture, these were largely between amateurs until the late 2000s when participation by professional gamers and spectatorship in these events saw a large surge in popularity. By the 2010s esports was a significant industry with tournaments being watched by millions of people online; prize money amounting to tens of millions of dollars was paid out annually by the end of that decade.

What is Hearthstone?

Hearthstone is a digital collectible card game (CCG) developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Based on the Warcraft series of video games, Hearthstone was first released in 2014. The game features turn-based combat between two opponents, using constructed decks of thirty cards along with a selected hero with a unique power. Players can also use basic decks which are put together by the game automatically. Cards can be gained through winning matches and completing quests, and gold can be used to purchase additional cards Google. (2016). Alves, Bruno. “Is Hearthstone an Esport?.” Red Bull eSports, 11 Apr. 2016, http://www.redbull.com/us-en/hearthstone-an-esport.)

Why is Hearthstone not an eSport?

Hearthstone is not an eSport because it does not have a competitive scene. While the game has a pro scene, it is not supported by Blizzard, the game’s developer. This lack of support means that there are no official tournaments or leagues for Hearthstone. This makes it difficult for professional players to earn a living playing the game. In addition, Hearthstone does not have a spectator mode, which makes it difficult to watch matches between top players.

Conclusion

Hearthstone is not currently an esport, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be one in the future. While the game lacks the formal structure and professional organizations that most other esports have, it has a large and passionate player base that helped it become one of the most popular games on Twitch. If Blizzard decides to invest more resources into promoting Hearthstone as an esport, there’s a good chance it could become one in the coming years.