Heroes of the Storm is experiencing a quiet resurgence, driven by a passionate internal team focused on long-term sustainability and player engagement. After development and esports support were drastically scaled back in 2018, and new heroes ceased altogether after December 2020, the game had largely been in a holding pattern. However, by 2022, lead game producer James Yen returned to the project with a mission to revitalize the MOBA.
Reigniting the Core
"In 2022, when we came back, we felt how the community felt about all the ups and downs and things that have happened," Yen told Polygon. "It’s our mission to make sure that Heroes of the Storm is a sustainable product. That’s how we approached it." The current team, described by Yen as a "small, passionate group," initially focused on non-player-facing improvements like game infrastructure and development tools. This period of quiet updates, which began in July 2022, allowed the team to build a stronger foundation for content creation.
Blizzard resumed monthly patches in September 2023, starting with bug fixes and gradually moving to balance adjustments. This methodical approach, Yen explained, was the best way to familiarize the team with the game. The community began to take notice as these updates started to impact gameplay, creating a buzz that motivated the developers. "There was some buzz there, and that really helped charge the team to be like, let’s do this, and we got there, and we’re like, ‘OK, we’re good. Let’s make a hero,’" Yen recalled.
Creating Xal'atath
Around a year ago, the team felt ready to introduce a new hero. While options from other Blizzard titles like Overwatch and Diablo 4 were considered, Xal'atath, a character from World of Warcraft: Midnight, was chosen. Yen was drawn to her "dark, evil vibe" and aimed to make her "even more snarky in Heroes."
Initially planned as a support character, playtesting revealed this iteration of Xal'atath wasn't fun. The team pivoted, transforming her into a ranged assassin with area-of-effect abilities focused on lane control, a change that proved more successful. Despite her complexity, Xal'atath is designed to appeal to the game's dedicated player base rather than new players. "We are catering to the people that have been with us for a long time," Yen stated. "If we create an easy character, it might not necessarily be for them. Fun is such an important pillar of ours."
Xal'atath was officially unveiled at BlizzCon's opening ceremony and is available on the public test realm, with a full release scheduled for September 28.
What's Next for Heroes of the Storm?
While Blizzard president Johanna Faries teased the possibility of another new hero soon, Yen remained circumspect about future content specifics. His primary focus is on sustainability and responding to community excitement. "We have plans and we have dates in our minds – and sometimes that doesn't necessarily hit," Yen admitted. "What’s really important for us is which hero we think is fun, and which hero the community thinks is fun."
The current strategy for Heroes of the Storm is a slow-and-steady approach, prioritizing player feedback and sustainable development. "We're really looking at it as a sustainable model, and we'll adjust as we go forth," Yen said. "Now that we’ve made the statement, hopefully they can come back and enjoy it, and we’ll continue to experience it with them."