Following the critical response to the recent card art changes (review our Patch 14.6 coverage here), Blizzard has spoken with a journalist from Kotaku in order to bring more clarity to the situation:
Quote from BlizzardThe recent changes were applied to make those cards more visually cohesive and consistent with the art style of Hearthstone today. When Hearthstone first launched, we brought in a lot of artwork from the physical World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. In the years since, Hearthstone has developed a look, feel, and personality of its own that distinguishes it from that of Warcraft — though we still love being a part of that universe. We’ll always be looking for ways to deliver on the game’s unique style, charm, and personality.
(Lead Mission Designer) Dave Kosak also spoke with PC Gamer to discuss his views on the reasons for the changes:
Quote from PC GamerBlizzard made changes to the artwork on eight Hearthstone cards yesterday (and changed the names of two of them), and the reaction was not entirely positive. Multiple posters in this Reddit thread, for instance, speculate that the sex and violence was dialed back in order to be in line with Chinese regulations. That would not be unprecedented: China's gaming market is heavily censored, and Blizzard has previously made changes to World of Warcraft visuals in order to comply with regulations.In this case, however, China had nothing to do with it. Lead mission designer Dave Kosak told us that after reviewing the full Hearthstone set, Blizzard decided that the art on some of the cards simply didn't meet its standards, and that Blizzard "wouldn't print those same cards today."
Quote fromWe went back and really just brought everything up to our standards. It wasn't because we were looking at ratings, or international [regulations], or anything like that. We really just wanted our artists to feel good about everything in the set.Succubus underwent the most complete transformation: The stats and effect are the same, but the sexy cruel demons who "slake their lust with coupling" are out, and pack-hunting "demonic beasts" are in. Mistress of Pain (now Queen of Pain), Secretkeeper, and Windfury Harpy have also had the sexy factor dialed back, while Bite, Eviscerate, and Deadly Shot are now less graphically violent.
Kosak confirmed that some of the changes were aimed at toning down the portrayals of sex and violence in the game (although designer Liv Breeden noted that one card, Headcrack, was updated because it was just too dark and hard to read) but emphasized:
Quote from[...The decision was driven not by external forces] but just kind of bringing it up to the standards we felt really good about today.
The change was done to
A) Cater to the Chinese market (despite their claims)
B) Political correctness
Basically, they bent the knee for China.
With how popular they are in China do they really need to do anything?
Are you a fan boy? Because in every comment you defend them and yes things need to be censored in China, does not matter how popular you are. Idjit.
HS is actually now becoming a childrens card game LULW. On a more serious note they missed soo many more cards with the same artwork style (betrayal,whirlwind,frothing berserker and any card that looks remotely sexual.) that this change in artwork just looks stupid and makes certain cards look out of place for a class . Why even call deadly shot 'deadly' if you cant even depict it.
if it ain't broke, don't fix it
Noboby had a problem with it in the last 5 years ,nobody else has a problem with it today
Hey Kosak, the changes are stupid and the "standards" you speak of is PR bull. And so is every one of you silly mf-ers that thought people would be all right with these changes. I can understand toning down some of the sexuality (secretkeeper too sexy), but removing blood from bite, EVISCERATE and absolutely butchering the Deadly Shot card is blasphemous. Worst of all is the outright removal of Succubus, a demon that has long existed in all sorts of DnD/WoW/Diablo whatever type lore. She deserves to be in this game, period. Guess the lot of you should have been removed from the Hearthstone team because this is pure betrayal to your player base.
EDIT: Also, where is the line drawn? Referencing death and destruction and having words like Eviscerate all imply a certain level of violence. You see all the reddit posts making fun of other cards to potentially be changed? You're on a slippery slope.
So why wasn't the Succubus done in the same vein as Mistress of Pain (now Queen of Pain) again?
Cuz if it wouldn’t be like that it wouldn’t be a legit succubus anymore.
Would it? I think otherwise. As if they can get away with Queen of Pain, which is a card that isn't standard and is still a Succubus after the change, but they are willing to change the artwork for a Succubus that is in standard into a felhunter (demon doggo), then they are being contradictory with their own set of "standards".
so this is more important than nerfing big priest?
As you see for people, jerking on hearthstone arts is more important.
personal insults are such a great argument Kappa
I personally hate this new Deadly Shot
Wow. It was better for them to not respond. This is just blatant BS. "More in line with the current standards" LOL...
Baby momma succubus wont be forgotten Blizzard....
C H Y N A
I call that PR bullshit.
Ooof I am sitting here pressing F5 for card reveals, you don't know how hyped I was.
Tbh the art on headcrack was half the reason I played it. Couldn't they have just edited the contrast??
that's not the point. there is an undead or gore or whatever on that art and thats a big no no in china or muslim or whatever countries.
huh, weird how skeleton knight got special card. He was changed on the asian servers while europe and USA has still same old skeleton faced knight.