We've reposted this from December 2019 due to a client bug which results in seeing information on Arcane Orbs and Runestones.
We've been hard at work going through today's huge patch and we've come across some interesting new currencies in Hearthstone!
UPDATE: Looks like this is a China-only currency, as previously speculated. A blog post in China, that was not previously available, showcases it. One hell of a way to get around loot box stuff, Blizzard.
Now, before we get into this, please understand that everything that follows this sentence is datamined information and is subject to change.
What Are Arcane Orbs and Runestones?
Arcane Orbs and Runestones are both new currencies related to the Hearthstone shop. Here's what we know about them.
- Prior to today's patch, there have been no references to either Arcane Orbs and Runestones.
- You can use both currencies to purchase different types of items in the new in-game shop.
- There are separate sections in the shop to use Arcane Orbs and Runestones.
Arcane Orbs
- Arcane Orbs can purchase Card Packs.
- You can earn Arcane Orbs through quests and events.
- There is a cap to how many Arcane Orbs you can own, encouraging spending. Cap appears to be 9999.
- There is a quest called "Embrace the Arcane" that rewards you with 180 Arcane Orbs for playing 3 games in any mode.
Runestones
- Runestones can purchase Arcane Orbs, Heroes, Adventures, or Arena Tickets.
- Runestones can be converted into Arcane Orbs at an unknown rate.
- Runestones can be purchased with real currency.
- They appear to be unearnable in-game.
Outside of the information above, we aren't sure what the plan is for Arcane Orbs and Runestones.
- It is possible they could be a region-specific currency to get around loot box laws.
- With them being available from quests and events, the currencies will be used to catch players up on older content.
- No references to card backs tells us it is unlikely they are here to bring back unobtained card backs.
Comments
The 'Pity Timer' mechanic currently only exists because of mainland chinese gambling law.
Hopefully this change is indicative of a general reform away from the pack system? I doubt it, but the way EU legislation is leaning, I don't know how much longer hearthstone can keep propping up a system that most players, as far as I have seen, put up with as a genre trope rather than enjoying.
Ironic how china is one of the few countries on earth that actually recognizes the nuclear disaster lootboxes are to society enough that they call it gambling. Yeah, there's obviously loopholes, but a step is a step.
It's not technically murder if they can't find the murder weapon *think about it meme*
Meh. Gambling in China is strictly forbidden (what isn't?) and buying packs (where you don't know what u will get) for money is a gambling. Because of that Blizzard changed this system a little. In China you pay for arcane dust and pack is free bonus to transaction (you know what are you buying - arcane dust, so no problem, right?). But it was makeshift, temporal solution. Now Chinese will get (and pay for) premium currency. Unless gambling in games will be forbidden in USA or EU, you won't see it there.
Wow - all the comments that got smashed with the downvote in this thread - in todays environment would justifiably be upvoted...
This is going to redddit to see if they stop with the "weird bug" and "new feature coming?" posts
Repost from almost exactly a year ago. I don't like doing this, but we need to spread the word because I've seen enough of the screenshots and questions!
I didn't see that this is a repost until I reread the first line. Is it possible to add "(Repost)" to the title for all of us who missed it?
I was wondering.... "New currencies? Didn't we hear about these quite a while ago?"
Ideally Team 5 would fix the client so it didn't sometimes show (as has happened to me) for players it doesn't apply to.
Yeah, I'm hoping this is resolved in the next game update.
Shadowverse has a very similar way of making purchases like this. They use multiple currencies for different things. Shadowverse has done really well in Asian countries as well so I am not surprised that hearthstone is moving to something like this for "China Only".
Chinese Market is the place to be for the big money and Blizz did not hesitate to protect their interests when investors didn't appreciated the stream content. No surprise there indeed.
I hope these changes are only for China. The current system is pretty simple and transparent. And all these different kinds of currencies are usually made to trick the players and make them pay more IMO.
Mike Donais has seemingly confirmed that it's china only <span style="background-color: #212528
I do like the idea of being able to buy Hero portraits via digital currency. Maybe a shard type currency that you get the choice of dust or shards for disenchanting duplicates.
This seems like a lot of work to buy cards and packs
Presumably this is coming about because of Chinese laws against loot boxes being purchasable with real money. I think up til now Blizzard had adopted the "Buy something, get packs as a gift" model that League of Legends uses in China. This seemingly allows for packs as a more direct purchase.
So spending real money on pretend money for loot boxes is okay?
that just seems like a lot of extra steps
Alt currencies is a real hassle in Blizzard's other games too.
"I want to buy this 600-gem skin!" ($6)"
"Ooof, we can only offer you a 500 ($5) gem bundle or a 1,000($10) gems bundle"
"But there's nothing I want for 400 gems ($4)..."
"Buy more gems then!"