The multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre is dominated by two colossal games, League of Legends and Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2). While there are other, smaller MOBAs like Smite and Microsoft's upcoming attempt at the genre with Gigantic, a new challenger to the MOBA throne is primed for mass consumption.
Blizzard - the company behind some of the biggest PC franchises such as StarCraft, WarCraft, and Diablo - is putting out its first effort in the genre. Called Heroes of the Storm, it is due to release on June 2, with an open beta that will begin from May 19.
Though other MOBAs have a steep learning curve, Heroes of the Storm promises to be a lot more accessible for those who are new to the genre. At the same time, the more advanced players won't be shunned.
"With its focus on team play and fast-paced fun, Heroes of the Storm is a fresh take on a very popular genre," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment in a prepared statement. "We've built Heroes of the Storm in a way that makes it accessible to new players, but also challenging enough for veterans who really want to put their skills to the test. We can't wait to see what Heroes brings to the co-op and competitive scenes once the Nexus opens up to everyone."
Perhaps its biggest strength is the ability for players to use characters from well established Blizzard IP like Diablo and StarCraft. With over 30 characters (or heroes as the game calls them), a host of customisation options in the way of mounts and skins, seven battlegrounds, and more to come post-launch, there's something for everyone.
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