# StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

> expansion pack

**Wikidata**: [Q1207938](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1207938)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft_II:_Heart_of_the_Swarm)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/starcraft-ii-heart-of-the-swarm

## Summary
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is an expansion add-on for the StarCraft II real-time strategy video game series developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Activision Blizzard. It was released on 2013-03-12 for Microsoft Windows and macOS and is distributed via Battle.net.

## Key Facts
- StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is an expansion add-on in the StarCraft series and StarCraft II subseries.
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment (American video game publisher and developer).
- Publisher: Activision Blizzard.
- Publication date: 2013-03-12.
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows and macOS.
- Genre: Real-time strategy.
- Game modes: Single-player and multiplayer.
- Composer: Russell Brower; Designed by Dustin Browder.
- Distributed by: Battle.net.
- Instance of: expansion add-on; Expansion of: StarCraft II.
- Release formats: DVD (distribution format) and digital distribution via Battle.net.
- Notable identifiers: IMDb tt2288037; ESRB game id 32526 (for Microsoft Windows).

## FAQs
### Q: What is StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm?
A: It is an expansion add-on to StarCraft II, developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Activision Blizzard, released on 2013-03-12 for Microsoft Windows and macOS.

### Q: Which platforms can Heart of the Swarm be played on?
A: Heart of the Swarm runs on Microsoft Windows and macOS.

### Q: Who developed and published Heart of the Swarm?
A: The expansion was developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Activision Blizzard.

### Q: Where is Heart of the Swarm distributed?
A: The game is distributed via Battle.net and was also released in DVD format.

### Q: What game modes does Heart of the Swarm support?
A: The expansion supports both single-player and multiplayer modes.

## Why It Matters
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is a major expansion add-on within one of the most prominent real-time strategy franchises. As an official expansion developed by Blizzard Entertainment and delivered through Battle.net, it continued the commercial and critical life of the StarCraft II series after the base release. The title is notable for its multi-platform availability on both Microsoft Windows and macOS, professional-grade production values (including a score credited to composer Russell Brower and design credited to Dustin Browder), and broad distribution through Activision Blizzard. It received strong critical attention, with cited review scores such as 9/10 from Gameblog.fr and an 88/100 entry in Kritikanstvo records. The expansion’s release contributed to the StarCraft II product lifecycle, supported ongoing multiplayer activity, and expanded the franchise’s catalogue of official soundtracks and ancillary media. For players and observers of the RTS genre, Heart of the Swarm represents a significant, well-documented entry in the StarCraft II ecosystem.

## Notable For
- Being an official expansion add-on to StarCraft II, released on 2013-03-12.
- Developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Activision Blizzard, with distribution via Battle.net.
- Multi-platform release: available on both Microsoft Windows and macOS.
- Credited creative leads: composer Russell Brower and designer Dustin Browder.
- Received positive critical scores in published reviews (examples include 9/10 from Gameblog.fr).

## Body

### Overview
- Title: StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.
- Instance: Expansion add-on (expansion_of: StarCraft II).
- Part of series: StarCraft and StarCraft II.
- Publication date: 2013-03-12.
- Country of origin: United States.
- Language of work or name (noted): Russian among listed Wikipedia languages.

### Development and creators
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment.
- Designer: Dustin Browder.
- Composer: Russell Brower.
- Publisher: Activision Blizzard.
- Translator role credited to Blizzard Entertainment.

### Platforms and technical details
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows; macOS.
- Input devices: computer mouse and computer keyboard.
- Distribution formats: digital distribution via Battle.net and DVD.
- ESRB identifier: 32526 (listed for Microsoft Windows).

### Game structure and modes
- Genre: Real-time strategy.
- Game modes: Single-player and multiplayer.
- Part of series hierarchy: listed under StarCraft and StarCraft II series entries.

### Release and distribution
- Publication date: 2013-03-12.
- Distributed by: Battle.net.
- Available in retail/DVD and digitally via Blizzard’s distribution channels.

### Reception and identifiers
- Noted review entries: 9/10 (Gameblog.fr, 2013-03-22) and an 88/100 entry in Kritikanstvo records.
- IMDb id: tt2288037.
- Multiple database and storefront identifiers exist (VGChartz, GameSpot, Game Informer, MobyGames, Speedrun.com id sc2hots, and others).

### Soundtrack and media
- Soundtrack releases: StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm and StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm – Volume II.
- AllMusic album id for soundtrack: mw0002548003.

### External database presence
- Present in numerous game databases and indexing services (GameSpot, Game Informer, MobyGames, VGChartz, Speedrun.com, and many national/regional databases and review sites).

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm",
  "description": "StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is an expansion add-on for the StarCraft II real-time strategy series developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Activision Blizzard.",
  "url": "http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/games/hots/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft_II:_Heart_of_the_Swarm",
    "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2288037/"
  ],
  "gamePlatform": [
    "Microsoft Windows",
    "macOS"
  ],
  "author": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Blizzard Entertainment"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Activision Blizzard"
  },
  "genre": "Real-time strategy",
  "datePublished": "2013-03-12",
  "playMode": [
    "Single-player",
    "Multiplayer"
  ]
}

## References

1. [2013](https://www.gameblog.fr/jeu-video/jeux/tests/test-starcraft-ii-heart-of-the-swarm-pc-mac-92972)
2. Kritikanstvo
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Battle.net
5. MusicBrainz
6. GameSpot
7. Badgames
8. [Search - Film and Video Labelling Body of NZ](https://www.fvlb.org.nz/film-detail?id=159596)
9. Game World Navigator
10. Game Informer
11. Q125199075
12. VGChartz