Hearthstone Access (opens in new tab) is a mod that makes Blizzard's collectible card game accessible to blind and low-vision players, who can use screen reader software and keyboard commands to play Hearthstone. This is the work of modder GuideDev, who has been updating it since August 2021, but who has announced that he will end support for Hearthstone Access as of version 24.6 (opens in new tab).

As Guide Dev writes, "It has become increasingly difficult to carry Hearthstone Access all these years and it is time to step back. I really, really hate doing this, but the last few months have been extremely busy and I have seriously struggled to keep up with everything."

Due to Hearthstone's bi-weekly updates, Hearthstone Access also had to be updated every two weeks. Guide Dev writes, "We just don't have as much time to devote to it as we used to." With all the recent (and upcoming) changes, Hearthstone Access has gotten so bad (even though Hearthstone itself is getting better) that we think it's getting worse with every patch." This was never the intent.

Blizzard has since addressed this issue in a post on the official forums regarding Hearthstone accessibility (opens in new tab), and Blizzard's Community Manager has long worked with Guide Dev to "facilitate mod development He also noted that they have been working to improve Hearthstone's accessibility in a way that complements mods. As an example, since screen readers sometimes struggle with overlapping dialogue, music, sound effects, and ambient sounds such as Hearthstone's background voices that simulate barroom chatter, they have implemented not only a mono sound option, but also It has been mentioned that individual volume controls will be implemented

, and that the system will be able to adjust the volume of the sound to suit the needs of the audience.

This will be part of a post-launch patch for March of the Lich King, but in the future Blizzard will "look at what it would take to implement native accessibility features that would allow blind and low vision users to return to the game."

After access to Hearthstone is interrupted by the update, there will unfortunately be a period of time when blind players will not be able to play until the game's native accessibility features catch up; as Blizzard explains, "A project of this magnitude and importance It takes time to complete a project of this magnitude and importance," explained Blizzard. We are very sorry to our friends and players who will not be able to access Hearthstone during this time."

The game's native accessibility feature will be available to all players who are blind or visually impaired during this time.