Heroes of the Storm (HotS) is Blizzard’s crown jewel of the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre and saw considerable popularity following its release in 2015. It’s packed with innovative gameplay and, even better, an all-star roster from the Blizzard universe.
However, after a rather abrupt termination of the Heroes of the Storm Global Championship (HGC) in 2018, coupled with Blizzard’s apparent neglect of the title, the community has been buzzing with questions: Is HotS a dead game? And what’s the deal with the game’s player count?
How Many People Play Heroes of the Storm In 2024?
According to third-party data, Heroes of the Storm is estimated to have an active player count of around 5.1 million. However, you should take this figure with a grain of salt because Blizzard Entertainment keeps the real numbers close to its chest.
The company only announces a combined monthly active users (MAUs) metric, which reflects the overall size of its player base (not specific game titles). According to the latest earnings report, Blizzard games were accessed by 26 million monthly active users in the last quarter.
As mentioned, this figure represents the active player count across a spectrum of titles, such as HotS, World of Warcraft (WoW), Diablo, Overwatch, and StarCraft. So, pinning down the exact number of Heroes of the Storm players in 2024 is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
That said, playercount.com claims that Heroes of the Storm has an active player count of 5.1 million and a total player base of 10 million. But there’s a problem here, too. This estimation is based on their proprietary “Gohost Network Protocol technology,” which makes it difficult to know whether this is bogus or not.
The site claims that most Heroes of the Storm players are based in the U.S., China, and South Korea. HotS is also reported to have more than 290,000 peak concurrent users, with most matches lasting ~20 minutes (the most popular game mode is Quick Match).
Is Heroes of the Storm A Dead Game In 2024?
No, HotS is not a dead game—well, not exactly. While HotS viewership on streaming platforms like Twitch has dwindled, it’s not fair to say that Heroes of the Storm is “dead” given that the MOBA is reportedly 5 million players strong. Still, HotS’ player count is a far cry from its competitors, Dota 2 and League of Legends (LoL). For example, Steam DB reports that Dota 2 has ~360,000 active players at any given time. Likewise, LoL has a monthly player count of about 180 million—that’s 36x more than HotS!
What Does HotS’ Future Look Like?
The good news is there may still be hope for HotS to reclaim a top spot in the MOBA genre. Following Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it’s possible that the game could benefit from broader platform availability—including a potential expansion to Steam and Microsoft’s Game Pass.
This strategy, which mirrors that of other Blizzard-owned properties (such as Diablo IV and Overwatch 2), could attract a wider audience and ultimately boost the HotS player count. In addition, Blizzard has been releasing new patches for the game despite previously stopping active development.
For example, a November 2023 patch focused on in-game bug fixes, balance changes, and QoL improvements, which may hint at a renewed (albeit cautious) re-investment in the game. These changes could indicate a strategy to maintain and reinvigorate the HotS player base.
Who Still Streams Heroes of the Storm In 2024?
There are quite a few Twitch channels that stream HotS. These channels don’t have nearly as many concurrent viewers as players who stream games like Counter-Strike 2, but they allow you to enjoy classic HotS gameplay and chat with other community members.
Top 10 Most Popular HotS Twitch Streamers
- Khaldor
- Rosemilovelock
- LiquidHasuObs
- Mewnfare
- TPHide
- FanHOTS
- Leonblack
- NicHeroes
- Qopenhhagen
- Shigity
Heroes Of The Storm – Twitch Stats 2024
Looking for the latest HotS Twitch stats? Say no more.
- Hours watched: 775,814
- Hours Broadcast: 34,167
- Average Viewers: 1,077
- Max Viewers: 12,843
Note: These stats are courtesy of Sully Gnome and are accurate for the period Jan. 20 to Feb. 21, 2024.
Betting On Heroes Of The Storm At Thunderpick
HotS has certainly faced setbacks since its 2015 release, including the abrupt end of its championship in 2018. But it’s not dead! According to third-party estimates, more than 5 million players actively play the game, and it has its fair share of streamers.
One hope amongst certain HotS fans is that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard could bring about a resurgence through broader platform availability. Plus, patches and ongoing support suggest a cautious reinvestment in HotS.
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