HoTS Direct Launcher

Bypass Battle.net completely and launch Heroes of the Storm directly from the loader, no need to wait for b.net to run game update checks, no background processes eating your RAM/CPU.

Why this project?
Battle.net launcher is pointless, it runs multiple services, hogs memory, and forces updates.
The loader cuts out the middleman - launches HoTS directly using the game's own executable with proper authentication for faster startup and less resource usage.

How it works?

Uses HoTS's built-in HeroesSwitcher with direct launch parameters.
The script finds your game installation, handles authentication through command line arguments, and starts the game without loading Battle.net services.

Installation

1. Download latest release and extract to any folder
2. Right-click HoTSLoader.ps1 -> Properties -> Check "Unblock" -> Apply (unless already unblocked)

First Run (Required)

Option 1 - via PowerShell:

cd "C:\Your\Path\To\HoTS-Loader"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File HoTSLoader.ps1

Option 2 - via Terminal from project root folder:
Navigate to root folder -> Shift + Right Click -> "Open PowerShell window here" -> Run:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File HoTSLoader.ps1

The script creates a desktop shortcut automatically on first run.

Configuration

Game Path (config.xml)

Open config.xml in any text editor:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
    <GamePath>C:\Program Files\Heroes of the Storm</GamePath>
</config>

Change the path to your HoTS installation folder.

Accounts (accounts.csv)

Open accounts.csv in any text editor:

Email,FriendlyName,Region
your@email.com,Main Account,EU

Fields:

• Email - Your Battle.net email
• FriendlyName - Display name in launcher
• Region - Your game region (NA/EU/KR)

Regions:

• NA - Americas (us.actual.battle.net)
• EU - Europe (eu.actual.battle.net)
• KR - Asia (kr.actual.battle.net)

Requirements

• Windows OS
• PowerShell/Terminal
• Heroes of the Storm installed
• Administrative rights (in case of handle errors)

Current Limitations

• Region selection in GUI - HoTS defaults to Americas region
• Manual username/password entry required on first login

Future updates: automate region selection based on config file, login via credentials from config file

Support

Like this project? Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/xvoidbyte

Issues/Features:

Create a GitHub issue with detailed information or a PR for any features you would like to see implemented.