Some notable card game players have criticized Hearthstone’s new Battle Pass, which adds a separate reward track from Battlegrounds Season 2, for the rewards included in its paid tier, which they call “pay to win.” This change means that players can no longer receive Battlegrounds bonuses for gold earned in-game, leaving some free players feeling left out. The new update also introduces Runestones, an intermediate currency that has also had a generally negative reception.
The Battlegrounds Season 2 update introduces a separate progression track for your Battle Pass, which includes the usual mix of free and paid tier rewards. Generally, everything in the Hearthstone Battle Pass is cosmetic, and most of the rewards included in the Battlegrounds tier also fall into the same category. However, this also substantially blocks the ability to choose between four heroes instead of two for real money paywalls.
Previously, players had four heroes to choose from at the start of a run instead of the usual two if they had access to Battlegrounds perks; these were previously included in the Tavern Pass, which could be purchased for 2,500 gold or in-game. US$19.99. AMERICAN DOLLARS. Players now have no way to access this perk as a completely free-to-play player, but instead must purchase them with real money via the new Hearthstone Runestones, an in-game currency that can be purchased for real money.
YouTuber Zeddy posted a video in which he called the new Battle Pass “predator” and said he won’t be playing the mode again. He points to the community tier lists for the mode’s heroes, noting that the mode’s hero balance is all over the place and only two of the available heroes in Battlegrounds count as higher tiers. Zeddy watches as two additional slots greatly increase his chances of landing one of the higher ranked options.
In a 2020 post on the benefits of choosing two additional heroes through simulations, it was calculated that players can expect an average of 5.06% more profit if they choose four heroes instead of two. YouTuber Old Guardian dives into the stats in light of the new announcement, acknowledging that players can expect a “better than average” hero to be offered 22-25% more often, depending on the player’s level of play. from the leaderboard, four heroes give an 86% chance compared to 62% chance with just two.
Hearthstone Introduces Host Chadd Nervig said on Twitter (via Dot Esports) that “Outside of Season Pass Battlegrounds, anything currently purchasable with gold will continue to be available and we have no plans to change that.” This hasn’t reassured fans of the mode, who have previously praised Battlegrounds for being Hearthstone’s most accessible format for players who don’t want to spend any money.
In the announcement, Blizzard announces that players can no longer access perks with gold, saying “This change will allow us to continue to support and create content for the Growing Battlegrounds community” and adding that the team is “committed to keeping players balanced heroes and gameplay. “so choosing four heroes is more about choice than strength.” However, many players complain that Battlegrounds mode is no longer “truly free” like it used to be.
Following the announcement, several threads appeared on the game’s subreddit expressing their disappointment with the decision. Some users say they believe Blizzard’s message “blames players for not investing enough money in this mode.” Others point out that the hero limit affects both casual and competitive players: “Competitive players don’t want to be at a disadvantage, casual players want to pick a hero they think is cool.” With some players saying this change is causing them to consider leaving, Blizzard must decide whether to offer them another way to access the bonus hero feature or simply cut their losses.
Source : PC Gamesn
