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Hearthstone has kicked off the Year of the Raptor with a myriad of new content

by Lucy Mar 18,2025

The Year of the Raptor has arrived in Hearthstone, bringing a revitalized competitive scene and a fresh expansion cycle starting with Into the Emerald Dream, launching soon with a special pre-release event. A new Year of the Raptor game board boasts updated visuals and audio.

This year's Core Set update features a blend of returning favorites, crucial balance adjustments, and exciting new additions. Several cards with disruptive effects, such as high burst damage, have been removed to create a more refined gameplay experience. Further details on the Core Set update will be revealed soon.

Hearthstone Esports is roaring back to life in 2025 with a robust competitive calendar: two Seasonal Championships and a World Championship. Partnering with NetEase Thunderfire, this program boasts a minimum prize pool of $600,000, designed to attract and reward a wider range of players. Specific format and ruleset details will be shared shortly.

ytFollowing Into the Emerald Dream, Patch 32.2 will introduce a major Arena update. While specifics remain under wraps, this update promises a refined drafting experience and a fresh take on the Arena mode. This patch will also include a Battlegrounds Seasonal Update and the Into the Emerald Dream Mini-Set, arriving a patch earlier than usual.

This altered patch schedule reflects an adjustment to better synchronize development and content release cycles. The Into the Emerald Dream expansion will maintain its standard structure, including all planned updates and events. The regular patch schedule will resume with Patch 33.0 after Patch 32.4.

Dive into the excitement of the Year of the Raptor! Download Hearthstone for free today and visit the official website for more information. And don't forget to check out our list of the top turn-based games to play on mobile!