Blizzard has killed the Twist format.
Introduced back in 2023 as a rotating format to replace Classic, Twist saw 13 different seasons of content throughout its short lifespan. Card pools were varied and at times contained special rules such as when you were able to play 40 card decks or back in February 2024 when we were only allowed to play with Common cards.
Blizzard has decided to remove the format in the next major patch. They also acknowledged that they failed to communicate consistently with the community about them landing on the decision earlier, which, looking at their track record, is a pretty common problem with the development of Hearthstone.
Tavern Brawl is the future of Twist. Limited-time experiences will instead go here and they have plans for multiple new brawls for this year. We'll have to see how this goes of course, but one-week fun formats could end up being more exciting than Twist, and we all know Tavern Brawl has needed a major facelift anyway since its introduction many moons ago.
We also are told that there are going to be "new ways" to play with your Hearthstone cards. Vague, but intriguing? Read on for the full statement from Hearthstone's Game Director, Tyler Bielman.
Quote From Tyler Hello Hearthstone community,
I want to take a moment to talk with you about Twist and where Hearthstone is headed next.
As a team, we've decided that in Patch 35.4, we will be removing Twist from Hearthstone. From the very beginning, Twist was meant to be a space for bold ideas and creative risks. While it led to some memorable moments, it ultimately did not connect with you in the way we hoped. That's on us.
When Twist launched, our goal was to explore new formats and seasonal structures. The mode went through several versions, from fast changing seasons to longer, more stable rulesets. In the end, it became clear that adding another long term ranked mode alongside our core formats would be too demanding and time consuming, and that’s not what we want the Hearthstone experience to be.
We also want to acknowledge that we did not communicate clearly or consistently about the future of Twist. Regardless of where the mode eventually landed, you deserved transparency sooner. We need to do a better job of communicating earlier and more clearly about decisions like these, and this is a lesson we are taking seriously moving forward.
As we say goodbye to Twist, we want to recognize what it was. It was a place where we challenged assumptions, tried new structures, and pushed Hearthstone in unexpected directions. That chapter may have ended, but its impact will continue to shape what comes next.
Looking ahead, we believe Hearthstone’s boldest ideas and limited-time experiences fit best in places like Tavern Brawls. We've already begun shifting in this direction, with multiple new Tavern Brawls released recently and more planned for the year. This space allows us to revisit favorites, introduce new rules, and explore ideas that shine in short formats, like new takes on The Burndown or decks built from cards across every class.
We are actively finalizing plans for new ways for you to play with your cards in Hearthstone. There is more to share, and when the time is right, we will talk about how these lessons are showing up in what comes next.
As always, thank you for playing, for experimenting alongside us, and for holding us to a high standard.
— Tyler
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