Hearthstone is introducing premium currency and a Battlegrounds season pass, players are unimpressed

Hearthstone’s auto-battler mode Battlegrounds remains popular, even among players who don’t bother with regular Hearthstone. On August 30 Blizzard will launch Season 2 of Battlegrounds, which will add quest mechanics and two new heroes, but it’s also going to bring some things players are less excited about: premium currency and a premium rewards track to go with it.

Real-money purchases in the Hearthstone shop will be phased out in favor of a virtual currency called Runestones, though as Blizzard’s FAQ (opens in new tab) notes, “Some products, like Pre-Purchase Bundles, the Hearthstone Tavern Pass, and Packs (purchasing more than one at a time) will be able to be purchased with money or Runestones.” Typically, premium currencies are sold in amounts that don’t correspond directly to the cost of items in the shop, meaning customers have to buy more than they want. Blizzard says some Runestone bundles will be sold in “quantities that correspond to our major products (like the Battlegrounds Season Pass)”, though that leaves the question of what count as minor products unanswered.