Deceptively simple in design but epically engaging, Hearthstone will be instantly accessible to players regardless of their familiarity with Warcraft or collectible card games. Whether players prefer to wield magic or arms in battle, strike from the shadows or head on—or have never given any of that much thought—they’ll be able to jump right in, create a deck, and get in on the card-slinging action.

In addition to honing their skills in practice matches against the computer and taking on their buddies via their Battle.net friends list, players can challenge each other in two competitive game modes. “Play Mode” features traditional head-to-head battles, with players facing off for a chance to increase their medal ranking and earn card packs along the way. And for a different type of challenge, players can enter “The Forge,” where they start each match by building a deck from a new set of cards, and then use that deck to duel other Forge participants. Aside from winning new cards, players will be able to round out their collections by purchasing new card packs or disenchanting some of their existing cards to craft the ones they’re missing.

With hundreds of cards to choose from, featuring a wide range of colorful Warcraft spells, weapons, and characters, players will have limitless possibilities for developing and fine-tuning their deck-building strategies.

Free from ongoing conflicts of the Horde and the Alliance, the goblin trading town of Gadgetzan has quickly grown into a bustling maze of back-alleys, housing criminal organizations from all over Azeroth. Hearthstone’s newest expansion, Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, promises big profits to those cunning or foolish enough to try their luck in the seedy underworld of Azeroth.

Opportunity abounds in Hearthstone’s newest expansion, Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, but don’t just think you can waltz into town and make some easy gold. The new Gadgetzan has become a haven for criminals from all walks of life, but it’s run by three major crime families. To make it here, you’ll have to rub shoulders with smugglers, black market traders, and assassins . . . but once you earn their trust, they’ll cut you in on the contraband: 132 new cards (of somewhat questionable origins) to beef up your collection.

Opportunity awaits in the dark corners of Gadgetzan, and those with the spunk and street smarts to befriend the local crime families can earn a lavish cache of contraband in the form of 132 new cards.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan thrusts players into a lawless land where criminals from all over Azeroth have found a haven, free of scrutiny from the Horde and the Alliance. The fight for Gadgetzan dominance brought many petty perpetrators to town, but there are three crime families that truly rule the streets: the weapon-smuggling Grimy Goons, the assassins of the Jade Lotus, and the mana-hungry Kabal. Each family offers unique benefits to its own select set of three Hearthstone classes, allowing them to utilize special tricks of the trade unavailable to rival families, so players will want to choose their allies wisely when building decks!

In this (essentially) lawless town, there aren’t many you can trust. That’s why you’ll want to prove yourself to the leaders of each crime family in town. In Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, families are groups comprised of three classes that have banded together to expand their influence.

• Grimy Goons—this unlikely alliance of Hunters, Paladins, and Warriors use brute force and intimidation to smuggle weapons and enforce the rules on their turf.
• Jade Lotus—Druids, Rogues and Shamans have combined their mastery of secrecy and the mystic arts to form an alliance of assassins, complete with their own secret army of Jade Golems.
• The Kabal—mana-addicted Mages, Priests and Warlocks have joined forces to form this group of outcast magic users to gain control of the bootleg potion and illicit mana trade.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan will also introduce a brand new mechanic to Hearthstone—Tri-Class cards. Each family has its own unique Tri-Class cards, which can be used only by the three classes in that family. Now, each class will have its own twist on their family’s new playstyle, and they’ll get to share powerful resources unavailable to their rivals!

Coming to PC; Windows, iOS, and Android tablets; and mobile phones, Mean Streets of Gadgetzan card packs will be winnable in Hearthstone’s Arena mode, and purchasable with in-game gold or real money at the same prices as Hearthstone’s other card packs. Starting today, and up until the expansion is released later this year, those eager to hit the streets running can pre-purchase Mean Streets of Gadgetzan card packs in a special 50-pack bundle, available online only for a one-time price of $49.99/£34.99 (one purchase per account).