Blizzard has announced a new expansion for Hearthstone, titled "Reign of the Black Empire," set to launch on October 20. This expansion delves into the conflict between the Old Gods and the Titans in Warcraft's ancient past and appears to connect with the ongoing narrative of World of Warcraft. A key feature of the expansion is a new keyword called Assemble, which allows players to combine the text boxes of two separate minions, opening up new strategic possibilities. Additionally, Battlegrounds will introduce a new minion type known as Apparitions. Collecting enough destroyed Apparitions will hasten the arrival of a powerful Old God ally. The expansion will also feature "The Journey," a new in-game hub for narrative events, stories, and game modes, which will be available to all players free of charge.
Beyond the immediate expansion, Hearthstone is also preparing to introduce its first new class in four years: the Monk. Details regarding the Monk class are scarce at this time, but Blizzard confirmed its arrival for early next year, specifically March. More information is expected to be revealed during BlizzCon panels. This marks a significant addition to the game's roster of playable classes, which has remained unchanged for a considerable period.