Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft’s smartphone launch means big money for Blizzard

After months of waiting, we can finally take Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft with us everywhere in our pockets. And that means more cash for publisher Blizzard’s pockets.

Hearthstone is one of the top-grossing games in several key markets, according to the data firm App Annie. It is the most download iPhone app in eight countries, including South Korea. It is No. 2 in Canada, No. 15 in the United States, and No. 25 in the United Kingdom. On Google Play, which combines downloads for tablets and smartphones, Hearthstone has shot up the charts to reach No. 43 overall in the United States. That’s an impressive debut for a game that was previously only available on PC, Mac, and tablets. Millions of people who have iOS and Android smartphones now have a chance to play it and spend money on it. Revenues for games on smartphones and tablets reached $30 billion last year, and Hearthstone looks like one of the games that will push that even higher in 2015.