Blizzard is still updating Heroes of the Storm on an almost monthly basis, and I just think that's nice

GamesMOBAHeroes of the StormBlizzard is still updating Heroes of the Storm on an almost monthly basis, and I just think that’s niceWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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You can say a lot about the journey of HotS sinceits 2015 release, but I think it’s inarguable that Blizzard really did support this game, and did so beyond the point where it was no longer really viable. This thing launched with around 30 characters and now boasts 90, as well as a boatload of maps, modes, and other additional content: all free, of course. One of the more bizarre aspects of HotS now is that players generally feel 2.0 didn’t monetise enough.

All of which is prelude to noting that, while HotS may now be in maintenance mode, Blizzard continues to plug away at the game and release regular updates. There’s no new content, sure, but the developer continues with seasonal events, mode rotations, and considerably in-depth balance patches.

Also: this particular patch fixes loads of issues relating to shrub visibility, among which is an apparent bug where players could invisibly farm while in a shrub. Maybe it’s just the echo of the Knights Who Say “Ni!”, but I find it very amusing that somewhere in California lurks the coding master of the HotS shrubberies.

It’s also left the remaining HotS community in quite a nice place. I’ve always found MOBA communities to be quite spiky, and HotS over its lifetime has certainly had an element of that, but the HotS players who are still sticking around on the game’s Discord and subreddit (as well as the official forums) seem like a pleasant bunch: both resigned to the fact that their beloved game is in its dotage, and pleased that Blizzard is still listening, still updating, and still supporting the game long after the rest of the industry has moved on.

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Players' expectations for any game these days can be unrealistic. There’s a sense that developers owe a community constant updates and free new content, and responsive support is not just expected but demanded. HotS though is kinda past that. Everyone playing it knows that the jig is up, and hell everyone working on it knows the same. But they clearly share one thing: a pure love for the only actually good MOBA.

Blizzard gets more than its fair share of criticism, much of it deserved. But here’s one area where all you can do is doff your cap. I just reinstalled and hopped into HotS, went into quickplay with Valla, and found a great match almost instantly (I was bad and rusty but we won). It’s still as fun as ever and it’s just straight-up nice that, long past the point this thing has been commercially viable, Blizzard keeps it ticking over for the true believers. Credit where it’s due. Some might say HotS is dead: others would say long live Heroes of the Storm.

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