Blizzard announces the release of the Whispers of the Old Gods expansion for Hearthstone, adding 134 cards to the strategy game, and offering players free card packs for a limited time following the launch. This comes along with word that the game has surpassed 50 million players:

On the heels of Hearthstone®: Heroes of Warcraft™ surpassing 50 million registered players,† Whispers of the Old Gods™, the third expansion for Blizzard Entertainment’s award-winning online strategy card game, is now live. Starting today, players around the world are invited to collect and do battle with 134 new twisted, tentacle-packed cards—including the legendary Old Gods themselves: C’Thun, N’Zoth, Yogg-Saron, and Y’Shaarj.

This spine-tingling expansion turns everything players know about Hearthstone inside out. Familiar allies have been corrupted, new monstrosities have appeared, and the Old Gods of Azeroth have resurfaced—spreading their sinister influence and game-changing powers throughout the tavern.

“Whispers of the Old Gods adds an exciting new set of creepy, corrupted cards to Hearthstone,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We can’t wait to see how creative players are with the ancient evil of the Old Gods in their hands.”

C’Thun is especially eager to lend its awesome power to denizens of the tavern—players will receive this legendary Old God and two Beckoner of Evil cards when they open their first Whispers of the Old Gods card pack. Also, in celebration of the launch, everyone who logs in to Hearthstone will receive three Whispers of the Old Gods card packs free (for a limited time).