Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that bringing the popular Warcraft-themed card game, Hearthstone, to consoles remains a significant undertaking requiring substantial investment. The company says a full console port isn’t feasible until the right conditions are met.
Nathan Lyons-Smith, Executive Producer of Hearthstone, explained that the game’s aging codebase – estimated to be around 16 years vintage – necessitates a careful approach to any platform expansion. He emphasized the require to deliver a polished experience, rather than a rushed port.
“There’s a level of investment we need to make to do it right, particularly around the UI and user experience, and making sure that playing a card game on those platforms feels natural and smooth,” Lyons-Smith said, according to Eurogamer. “I recognize it’s possible – Magic: The Gathering’s Duels of the Planeswalkers years ago was a great experience using a controller, so I know we’re capable of it.”
Lyons-Smith added that one engineer estimated the game’s code is approximately 16 years old, and was initially developed by a team of only 15 people. “So there’s extra effort in wanting to make sure that when we do capture that step, the experience is really amazing, and not just a simple port that you can play,” he stated.
“I want to make sure that when we do it, it’s a great experience for players who prefer those types of platforms, whether they’re relaxing on the couch or using a handheld device.”
Hearthstone initially launched on PC in 2014, followed shortly by mobile and tablet versions. Player requests for a dedicated console version, particularly on the Nintendo Switch due to its portability, have been frequent, but Blizzard has yet to act on them. The continued demand highlights the growing desire for cross-platform gaming experiences.
Tyler Bielman, Game Director, further emphasized the need for optimization, stating, “If we’re going to bring the game specifically to living room platforms with big screens, we need to make sure the entire experience is optimized for that mode of play.”
With Microsoft’s acquisition of Blizzard, pressure to bring the successful card game to consoles may increase. However, Xbox’s strategic goal of enabling players to play “anywhere” suggests a broader focus on reaching players across all platforms. This shift in ownership could accelerate the game’s availability on a wider range of devices.
“Looking forward, as we explore console and handheld platforms, we’ll likely look to be as broad as possible,” Lyons-Smith said. “We now have a different owner than we did three years ago, who is more invested in Xbox and the idea that ‘everything can be Xbox.’ Their overall goal is to make games playable everywhere.”
The new Hearthstone expansion, themed around Cataclysm, is scheduled to launch on March 17th, bringing back Colossal cards and a brand new story.
