Originally called Blizzard DOTA, then Blizzard All-Stars, Heroes of the Storm is Blizzard's own free-to-play take on the Massively Online Battle Arena genre, featuring heroes and villains from the Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo franchises.In Heroes, the epic battles between the champions and villains of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo aren’t settled with last hits and kill-stealing—players are distinguished through the accomplishments of their team.
Whether you’re a hardcore WoW raider, a demon-slaying Barbarian, or a Bronze league Terran, you’ll find a customizable hero from across the Blizzard multiverse to suit your play style. Grab your buddies and engage in fast-paced mayhem across varied battlegrounds that impact strategy and change the way you play every match. When the mightiest characters in gaming history clash, only you can decide who’ll come out on top!
Characters like Thrall, Kerrigan, Diablo, Arthas, Zeratul, Tyrael—powerful warriors from Azeroth, Sanctuary, the Koprulu sector, and beyond—have been sucked into the Nexus, a transdimensional storm. Stranded in a strange limbo of clashing universes, these combatants are joined by the same fate—to engage in pulse-pounding combat, to team up in a deadly struggle for survival . . . and to answer the age-old question. . . .
With the global launch of Heroes of the Storm, the thrilling World Championship at BlizzCon, our Heroes of the Dorm collegiate tournament, and countless exciting matches that had us sitting on the edge of our seats, 2015 was a monumental year for esports in the Nexus. Now in 2016, we’re taking Heroes esports to a whole new level!
As announced at BlizzCon, 2016 kicks off the new Heroes of the Storm Global Championship Circuit. The best teams from Australia/New Zealand, China, Europe, Korea, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan will be competing in a seasonal format, with each of the three seasons—Spring, Summer, and Fall—culminating in a Global Championship event. In total, more than $4 million is on the line in the 2016 Global Championship Circuit.
With the first qualifiers and regional championships of 2016 getting underway, we’d like to share a breakdown of the Spring Global Championship and the events leading up to it. Read on to find dates and locations for some of our regional events, along with links to additional information.
Spring Global Championship Event
- Dates: April 1–3
- Location: Seoul, South Korea
- Partner: OGN
- Prize Pool: $500k USD
- Check back soon for more information
Australia/New Zealand – Spring Regional
- Dates: February 7–28
- Location: Preliminaries online; Finals in Sydney, Australia
- Partner: ESL
- Prize Pool: $20k USD
- Check back soon for more information
- Dates: January 15–24
- Location: Shanghai, China
- Partner: NetEase / NeoTV
- Prize Pool: $100k USD*
- Dates: March 5–6 (Finals)
- Location: Preliminaries online; Finals in Katowice, Poland
- Partner: ESL
- Prize Pool: $100k USD
- Dates: January 12–March 20
- Location: Preliminaries online; Finals in Seoul, South Korea
- Partner: OGN
- Prize Pool: $200k USD
- Dates: January 21–March 19
- Location: Preliminaries online; Finals in Brazil
- Partner: VIU / BRMA
- Prize Pool: $20k USD
North America – Spring Regional
- Dates: February 27–28 (Finals)
- Location: Preliminaries online; Finals in Los Angeles, California
- Partner: ESL
- Prize Pool: $100k USD
- Check back soon for more information
South East Asia – Spring Regional
- Dates: January 16–March 6
- Location: Preliminaries online and offline; SEA finals online, cast live from Singapore
- Partner: AsiaSoft
- Prize Pool: $22.5k USD*
- Dates: February 18–March 13
- Location: Preliminaries online; Finals in Taipei, Taiwan
- Partner: 4Gamers
- Prize Pool: $60k USD
*Regional prize pools may vary; USD values according to exchange rates; see regional websites for local prizing.
Heroes represents more than 20 years of Blizzard gaming history, settings, and iconic characters, all mashed up into an epic, action-packed team-based strategy game. Fight out classic showdowns such as Tyrael vs. Diablo, or settle those late-night debates you've had about who's the stronger leader—Raynor or Thrall? Could Kerrigan and Zeratul take down the Barbarian and Demon Hunter from Diablo III? Could Uther in his prime give Arthas the punishment he deserves?
Each customizable hero offers a wealth of tactical options and unique strengths that reflect their abilities in their respective games. Bringing these considerable powers to bear in the same setting opens limitless possibilities for previously impossible matchups and mind-blowing team combinations.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill transdimensional vortex! The Nexus plunges the greatest warriors and strategists of the Blizzard multiverse into one of several unique battlegrounds for a no-holds-barred melee. Conquer mercenary camps to recruit powerful allies to your side, such as siege giants. Unlock the mysteries of each battleground, including ghostly pirate ships, the fickle Raven Lord, and massive grave golems to achieve a glorious victory.
Distinguish yourself and your team in battle with dozens of unique heroes, skins, and mounts. Then choose from among multiple heroic abilities, enabling you to dish out ruin in the form of orbital bombardments, strafing frost wyrms, or all-consuming hellfire—to name just a few of the many ways you’ll be able to visit destruction upon your enemies. Good players win. The great ones make it look good, too.
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