The Year of the Raptor has arrived in Hearthstone, bringing with it a revitalized competitive scene and exciting new content. This year kicks off with the upcoming Into the Emerald Dream expansion, preceded by a special pre-launch event. Get ready for a visually and aurally refreshed in-game experience, complete with a new Year of the Raptor game board.

A major component of the Year of the Raptor is a Core Set update featuring a blend of returning favorites, crucial balance adjustments, and exciting new cards. Several cards known for their disruptive burst damage and frustrating effects have been removed to create a more refined gameplay experience. Further details on the updated Core Set will be revealed soon.

Hearthstone Esports is back and bigger than ever in 2025! This year's competitive calendar includes two Seasonal Championships and a World Championship, boasting a prize pool of at least $600,000 in partnership with Netease Thunderfire. This expanded program aims to significantly grow the competitive Hearthstone community. Specific format and ruleset details will be shared shortly.

Following the launch of Into the Emerald Dream, Patch 32.2 will introduce a substantial Arena update. While specifics remain under wraps, expect significant improvements to the drafting experience and a fresh take on the Arena mode. This patch will also include a Battlegrounds Seasonal Update and the Into the Emerald Dream Mini-Set, arriving a patch earlier than its usual release schedule.

This adjusted patch schedule is a strategic shift to better synchronize development and content delivery. The overall Into the Emerald Dream expansion will maintain its standard structure, including all planned updates and events. The regular patch schedule will resume with Patch 33.0 after Patch 32.4.

Ready to dive into the Year of the Raptor? Download Hearthstone for free today and visit the official website for the latest news and information. Don't forget to check out our list of the top turn-based games to play on mobile!