NetEase Games and 24 Entertainment have launched Phase 1 of a collaboration between NARAKA: BLADEPOINT and Hearthstone. The crossover, which went live around August 19 to 20 depending on region, marks the first time official Hearthstone content has appeared in a video game outside of Blizzard Entertainment’s own titles. Players can now bring some of the card game’s most recognizable sounds, visuals, and moments into the melee battle royale’s arenas.
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT is a free-to-play action battle royale developed by 24 Entertainment and published by NetEase. Released in 2021, it stands apart from many other battle royale games by focusing heavily on close-quarters martial arts combat. Players fight across maps inspired by Far Eastern mythology and history, using a mix of melee weapons, limited ranged options, grappling hooks for traversal, and unique hero abilities. The rock-paper-scissors style of counters and parries rewards timing and reading opponents more than pure aim. The game has maintained a steady player base through regular hero additions, seasonal content, and cosmetic collaborations over the years.
Hearthstone, Blizzard’s digital collectible card game, launched in 2014 and has built one of the most recognizable audio and visual languages in gaming. The innkeeper’s announcements for card rarities, Anduin’s surprised reactions, and creatures like the Murloc have become cultural shorthand even for players who no longer open packs regularly. Bringing those elements into a completely different genre is an unusual step, which is why the collaboration has drawn attention as a genuine crossover rather than a standard skin pack.
In Phase 1, players who log in during the event can claim the Murloc Headwear cosmetic for free. The accessory brings one of Hearthstone’s most enduring creatures into NARAKA’s character customization options. An in-battle speech bubble emote lets players recreate Anduin’s famous "Wow!" reaction at key moments. High-rarity loot drops from Troves can now trigger the classic Hearthstone announcements "Epic!" and "Wow… Legendary!" when players pick them up. A Hearthstone-themed Trove skin transforms battlefield chests into the familiar card pack design, pairing the rush of finding strong gear with the visual and audio excitement of revealing a high-rarity card.
The official gameplay trailer for the collaboration highlights these features and ends with special voice cameos from the Lich King, tying the two universes together through one of Hearthstone’s most iconic characters. The trailer leans into the humor and recognition that have always been part of Hearthstone’s appeal while showing how those moments translate into the fast-paced fights of NARAKA.
NetEase and 24 Entertainment have confirmed that this is only the first phase. Phase 2 is scheduled to arrive in 2027 and is expected to expand the collaboration with additional content drawn from the Tavern. The multi-year structure suggests the partnership is intended as more than a short promotional window, giving both teams time to develop deeper integrations or larger sets of cosmetics and interactions.
Collaborations between live-service games have become common, but most stay within similar genres or stick to straightforward character skins. This one stands out because it imports specific audio cues, emotes, and visual metaphors from a turn-based card game into a real-time melee battler. The "Wow!" emote and rarity announcements in particular play on shared cultural memory rather than requiring players to know the full Hearthstone roster. Even someone who has never opened a card pack will likely recognize the delivery and the humor when a Trove opens with a Legendary flourish.
For NARAKA players, the free Murloc Headwear and the new Trove skin offer low-friction ways to participate. The emote and voice lines add personality to matches without changing the underlying combat systems. For Hearthstone fans who also play the battle royale, the crossover provides a rare official appearance of their favorite franchise outside of Blizzard’s ecosystem. The Lich King voice cameos in the trailer further bridge the two communities.
The timing also reflects the current state of both games. NARAKA continues to update its roster of heroes and seasonal modes while seeking new ways to keep its player base engaged. Hearthstone has long experimented with crossovers of its own, including appearances in other Blizzard titles, but licensing its specific audio and visual identity to an external studio is a notable shift. By framing the deal as a one-way collaboration that brings Hearthstone into NARAKA rather than a full reciprocal exchange, the partners keep the focus on injecting recognizable moments into the battle royale without requiring changes to the card game itself.
Players can log in now to claim the free Murloc Headwear while the event is active. The Hearthstone-themed Trove skin, Wow emote, and rarity announcements are available through the in-game store and normal play. The official trailer remains the best way to hear the Lich King cameos and see the cosmetics in motion.
Phase 1 establishes the partnership with a set of playful, immediately recognizable features. Phase 2 in 2027 will determine how far the collaboration expands. For now, the battlefields of Morus Isle sound a little more like the Tavern, and the first official Hearthstone content outside of Blizzard has found a new home in a melee battle royale.