Gwent Set to Release Master Mirror Expansion

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game is preparing to release the fifth major expansion since the official release of the game in October 2018. The Master Mirror update will bring in more than 70 new cards along with original features that have never been seen before. The game from CD Projekt Red is trying to make a name for itself as an eSports title to rival Hearthstone, but the long-established Blizzard Entertainment offering is much more prevalent in the competitive gaming scene at present. Along with upgrades to the game, the Gwent developer could consider boosting the franchise further by breaking into iGaming.

Master Mirror Expansion

Players of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt expansion, Hearts of Stone, will remember the spooky character, Gaunter O’Dimm. The man, otherwise known as Master Mirror, creates pacts with people in exchange for their souls. For that reason, players should expect some magical and unsettling new cards when the expansion is released.

CD Projekt Red has so far been secretive about all the cards which will be brought into the game, but has announced that there will be new mechanics, statuses, and abilities. One of the most exciting new additions to the game is evolving cards. These are cards whose powers are upgraded as the game reaches its later stages.

For example, in Round One the new Usurper card has the ability to spawn an operative on the other side of the board and then seize said operative in the next turn when it gains Zeal. If the player holds the card until Round Two, the Usurper will evolve and spawn two operatives instead. In Round Three, the card will be at its most powerful. It will have the same abilities as in Round Two, but will also boost itself by one point every time an agent is played.

The Witcher Franchise is Growing

The best way for Gwent to knock Hearthstone off its perch as the most popular card game in eSports is to continue building the franchise. Hearthstone was able to attract players from the hugely popular World of Warcraft, but Gwent arguably has more streams from which it can entice audiences. In addition to the successful Netflix Witcher series, there are the three console games set in the Witcher universe.

Breaking into iGaming could arguably be the best way for Gwent to raise awareness among a different demographic. The pick-up-and-play nature of slots has a lot in common with quick-fire games of Gwent. When looking at the wide selection of slot games at LeoVegas, it is clear that fantasy is popular among players. There are options like Heroes Hunt, Hidden Valley, and Golden Tides which have magical themes.

A Gwent or Witcher-related slot certainly wouldn’t look out of place here and could serve to draw more attention to the card game. In creating one, The Witcher franchise would be following in the footsteps of Game of Thrones and Vikings. This is a gap in the market that Hearthstone has yet to capitalize on as well, so it could be a way for Gwent to get the edge.

The Master Mirror expansion could serve to bring in a whole new set of players to Gwent, as well as rekindle the interest of those who may have become bored of the game. However, for CD Projekt Red to knock usurp Hearthstone, it may need to open up new avenues for attracting players. An iGaming title could be the way to do this.