Heroes of the Storm Bringing Back Popular Game Mode

Heroes of the Storm is resurrecting its popular Heroes Brawl mode as "Brawl Mode," bringing back a plethora of discontinued maps and unique challenges after a nearly five-year hiatus. This revamped mode, currently available on the Public Test Realm (PTR), will officially launch with the next patch, approximately one month from now.

The original Heroes Brawl, initially launched as Arena Mode in 2016, featured weekly rotating gameplay twists. Inspired by Hearthstone's Tavern Brawls, it offered unique map layouts, altered objectives, and quirky rulesets. However, due to the rising preference for single-lane maps and maintenance difficulties, it was retired in 2020 in favor of ARAM.

Brawl Mode's return marks a significant event for Heroes of the Storm, especially given the game's upcoming 10th anniversary on June 2nd, 2025. This bi-weekly rotating mode (updates on the 1st and 15th of each month) offers players a special chest reward after completing three matches within the active Brawl period. The exact reward structure (single reward per Brawl or weekly rewards) is yet to be confirmed. With over two dozen past Brawls, players can anticipate the return of many favorites and potentially new additions.

The PTR currently features "Snow Brawl," a holiday-themed Brawl, for three weeks of testing. This suggests a potential February launch for Brawl Mode on the live servers.

Heroes of the Storm PTR Patch Notes (January 6, 2025)

The latest PTR patch includes the new Brawl Mode, along with several hero balance adjustments and bug fixes. Key changes include updated home screen and startup music.

Balance Updates: Significant balance adjustments were made to several heroes, including Auriel, Chromie, Johanna, Tracer, and Zul'jin, impacting their talents and base abilities. Specific changes are detailed below in the original patch notes.

Bug Fixes: Numerous bug fixes across various aspects of the game were implemented, addressing issues with experience globes, root visual effects, slows, and specific hero abilities. A complete list of bug fixes is included in the original patch notes.

(The original image links remain unchanged and are not reproduced here.)