Hearthstone’s next expansion is Forged in the Barrens

Hearthstone’s next expansion is Forged in the Barrens (literally, that’s its name). It ushers in a new Standard rotation — the Year of the Gryphon — and it takes place in the Barrens, an area known for battles between Alliance and Horde heroes, with roving bands of centaur and quillboar mercenaries.

Blizzard Entertainment made the announcement today at BlizzCon Online’s opening ceremonies. With 23.5 million active players, Hearthstone is one of Blizzard’s most important games. While it’s free-to-play, a significant number of players buy card bundles, packs, and battle passes, and these are significant contributors to Activision Blizzard’s bottom line. Blizzard didn’t announce a launch date when it revealed the expansion.