Hearthstone’s next adventure sure looks like Karazhan

Blizzard is getting ready to send Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft players on a magical, new quest.

Earlier leaks suggested that Karazhan could be the next adventure for Blizzard’s market-leading digital card game. Now the company has sent out invites for a Twitch event on July 28. The invitation has several decorative feathers, which give more weight to the whole Karazhan thing. Medivh, a sorcerer known for turning into a raven at will, is the most famous master of the magical tower. Hearthstone makes $20 million a month, and it’s the leader in the $1.2 billion digital card game segment. New content ensures that players are engaged and more likely to spend more money.

The Twitch stream starts at 11 p.m. Pacific on July 28.

Above: The invitation.

Image Credit: Blizzzard

Major content comes to Hearthstone in two forms: expansions and adventures. Expansions release over a hundred new cards, while adventures bring fewer (typically around 30). However, adventures also have fights against computer-controlled opponents that offer a different kind of challenge for players. This content also includes a story, typically based on content from the online role-playing game World of Warcraft. Past adventures included ones based on WoW raids like Naxxramas and Blackrock Mountain, while the latest was based on the organization (and not a raid) called The League of Explorers. The Explorer’s League (another name for the guild) is also a group in World of Warcraft.

Blizzard alternates between expansions and adventures. The last batch of content came via the Whispers of the Old Gods expansion in April.

Above: Karazhan from World of Warcraft.

Image Credit: Blizzard

Adventures are also unique because players do not have to buy packs of cards and hope they randomly get what they want. Instead, you pay for access to wings (each contain four or so bosses). You earn cards by beating opponents and challenges designed around the game’s unique classes.

Karazhan was one of WoW’s most popular raids. It featured aspects like a ballroom, an opera house, and even a giant game of chess. It has all the makings of a great adventure.