Hearthstone's Ben Brode Talks Upcoming Ranked Play Changes

We've all been there. Be it League of Legends, Dota 2, CS:GO, Overwatch, or literally any other multiplayer game with a ranked ladder - at some point, we've all hit a wall, and been unable to progress.

Hearthstone's Ben Brode has heard the community, and the Hearthstone team is now planning a slew of updates to the ranked ladder, and the ranked experience.

"...We're going to reset everybody exactly four ranks. So if you end February at rank 15, we'll reset you to rank 19, and if you end at Legend, you'll reset to rank 4."

At first, this sounds like an unpleasant change, without any context, but Brode goes on to say that if players manage to climb more than four ranks in a season, they'll start the next season at a higher point than the season before.

Additionally, every rank is now five stars. Though this means players at the very bottom of the ranks can't climb as quickly, as there are now more stars spread out throughout the ranks, matchmaking should be more accurate, and provide a more pleasant experience as a whole.

Lastly, end-of-season rewards, namely for the card back, will no longer have players go to rank 20 to earn it. Instead, the end-of-season card back will simply require 5 ranked wins - regardless on position on the ladder.

These changes should, overall, make the Hearthstone ranked experience a more smooth one. Though some players will lose bragging rights, matchmaking should, inevitably, be much more fair and equal now.

Check out the Designer Insights video down below.