Blizzard has surprised Heroes of the Storm players with news of a major addition to the long-running multiplayer online battle arena: Xal’atath is joining the hero roster later this month.
The announcement is a notable piece of arcade and gaming news because the game has effectively been in maintenance mode since 2022, after years without substantial development.
Who is Xal’atath?
Xal’atath originates in World of Warcraft, where she is the principal villain in the current story arc. Although she resembles an elf, her true identity is the “Harbinger of the Void”. Her goal is to consume the soul of the planet, making her arrival in the Nexus an appropriately ominous event.
A major surprise for Heroes of the Storm players
Heroes of the Storm servers have remained online and active, but the game has not received a major update in that period. Blizzard has instead limited support to occasional balance changes and bug fixes.
Rumours before this year’s BlizzCon had raised the possibility of renewed support, but expectations remained low until the recent announcement. For players who have continued returning to the MOBA, a new playable character represents a significant change of pace.
Blizzard is keeping its wider plans measured. During the announcement, Blizzard president Johanna Faries thanked the community for continuing to support the game and indicated that another new hero could arrive in the near future.
Release timing
Xal’atath is scheduled to enter Public Test Realms on Monday, giving players an opportunity to try the character before the planned launch on September 28.
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