Upcoming Heroes
In Dustin Browder’s interview with PCGamer, he mentioned 6-7 heroes playable on the internal patch of HotS [Ed.: he said 6, but also said there were 34 released].
We’ve seen a lot of lists of datamined voice lines and old Blizzcon models, but here is the most up-to-date evidence of what those heroes are:
Most Likely:
Lost Vikings
The Lost Vikings were one of the three Heroes playable last November at Blizzcon 2014, along with Thrall and Jaina.
They can be seen being played in a show match of Sky Temple here: [YouTube] BlizzCon 2014 - Gameplay Sky Temple avec Jaina - Thrall - Lost Vikings - Heroes of the Storm
The Lost Vikings are also all over the new loading screens and background art for beta, as well as the Heroe’s Dancing video. http://heroes.blizzplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Heroes_SkyTemple_LoadingScreen.jpg http://gfycat.com/LateCooperativeKronosaurus
Sylvanas
Sylvanas wasn’t playable at Blizzcon, but she was shown off in-game during a panel. [YouTube] BlizzCon 2014: Heroes of the Storm Deep Dive
Like the Lost Vikings, Sylvanas is also plastered across the new Beta background images and the dancing thang. http://heroes.blizzplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/
Kael’Thas
Kael’Thas has been appearing in data mines (http://www.heroesnexus.com/news/1058-full-list-of-unreleased-hero-abilities, http://www.heroesnexus.com/forums/heroes-general/general-discussion/478-datamine-interesting-info) and art panels (http://heroesofthestorm.gamepedia.com/File:ClassicKaelthas.png) for a long time
More recently, during the December Blizz Developer AMA, BlizzDev_PiGonzales talked about the process of updating the older models in-game. He noted that ETC and Malfuiron’s updates were the last required for already released champs, and some of the non-released champs had already had their models updated (he mention by name Sylvans, Kael’Thas, Zul’jin and Cho’gall, while also mentioning that Rexxar was next). http://heroesofthestorm.blizzpro.com/2014/12/05/heroes-storm-ama-transcript/
Kael’Thas is the only of the “Most Likely” heroes not to appear in the dancing vid, but in the recent AMA Developer Johnzee teased “Pyroblast” as the skill he is most excited for players to see in the near future. Sounds like a Kael’Thas firebomb to me. http://heroesofthestorm.blizzpro.com/2014/12/05/heroes-storm-ama-transcript/
Butcher
Like Kael’thas, Butcher art and models have been shown off forever. (Including as recently as Blizzcon 2014’s art panel http://heroesofthestorm.gamepedia.com/File:ButcherBlizzcon14.jpg)
Butcher is also shown in the dancing video, http://heroes.blizzplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/
Butcher is a Diablo franchise Hero, and with the teased Heaven and Hell map (http://i.imgur.com/zsHZVh1.jpg), it can be expected that several Diablo Heroes will be released. Developer Johnzee alluded to this during his interview on Town Hall Heroes [YouTube] Ep.47 Town Hall Heroes - Guest: @BlizzJohnzee ! [Ed. he also teased a possible Starcraft event as well, saying that he can’t speak to why there are fewer Starcraft characters on the horizon right now, but there is a reason, and we will see soon]
Leoric
Sounding like a broken record, but Leoric has been featured for years (http://heroesofthestorm.gamepedia.com/File:ClassicLeoric.png, http://heroesofthestorm.gamepedia.com/File:LeoricBlizzcon14.jpg) as well as being featured in the dancing video (http://gfycat.com/LateCooperativeKronosaurus)
Like Butcher, Leoric looks like a semi-complete Diablo here, ready for the Heaven and Hell map http://i.imgur.com/zsHZVh1.jpg.
Zul’Jin
Zul’Jin is another that has seemingly been in the internal version of the game for years. He’s been shown in gameplay footage (http://heroesofthestorm.gamepedia.com/File:Za%27Muro_Zul%27jin.jpg) art panel after art panel ([YouTube] Heroes Skin Showcase - Heroes of the Storm - Blizzcon 2013 and most recently, the dancing video (http://gfycat.com/LateCooperativeKronosaurus)
Zul’Jin was one of the heroes mentioned by BlizzDev_PiGonzales has having been given an updated model. http://heroesofthestorm.blizzpro.com/2014/12/05/heroes-storm-ama-transcript/
Rexxar
Rexxar can be seen hacking away in the gameplay sneak peak ([YouTube] Heroes of the Storm™ Gameplay Sneak Peek as well as the new dancing video (sound familiar? http://gfycat.com/LateCooperativeKronosaurus)
He was mentioned in December as being next on the list for a model update, out of all the old models that have been around since All-Stars/BlizzDota http://heroesofthestorm.blizzpro.com/2014/12/05/heroes-storm-ama-transcript/
Also Possible:
Cho’Gall
Cho has been shown for years, in older iterations of the game, both in gameplay ([YouTube] Heroes of the Storm™ Gameplay Sneak Peek and art panels (http://heroesofthestorm.gamepedia.com/File:ClassicCho%27gall.png)
He was one of the heroes mentioned by BlizzDev_PiGonzales in December as already having received a model update from the older versions. http://heroesofthestorm.blizzpro.com/2014/12/05/heroes-storm-ama-transcript/
Crusader
Crusader was shown off in the art panel at this year’s Blizzcon (http://heroesofthestorm.gamepedia.com/File:CrusaderBlizzcon14.jpg) while they were also talking about Butcher and Leoric – two heroes that are by all accounts further along. My guess is that she is being fast tracked to coincide with the Heaven and Hell map.
Datelines already have a bunch of ability name information for her http://www.heroesnexus.com/forums/heroes-general/general-discussion/478-datamine-interesting-info
Zamuro:
There are tons and tons of datamined entries for “Za’Muro” or “Blademaster”, probably the same hero http://www.heroesnexus.com/forums/heroes-general/general-discussion/478-datamine-interesting-info
He can also be seen in gameplay footage in the Sneak Peak ([YouTube] Heroes of the Storm™ Gameplay Sneak Peek