Any game that gets a huge following is most likely expected to branch off into different genres in order to get more users and more profit. Plants vs. Zombies isn't any different.

This game started as a simple tower defense game where players protect their house and the people inhabiting inside by combatting zombies through the use of plants. Its tight gameplay and whimsical design were a huge hit.

Now, Electronic Arts and PopCap Games announced a new game in the Plants vs. Zombies franchise called Plants vs. Zombies Heroes. EA and PopCap were said to be aiming for the game to be more accessible with a lot of depth, to satisfy newbies and experts alike. According to Mac Rumors, the game opted for a collectible card format, ditching its traditional tower defense mechanism.

Reports say the game is similar to the mobile game Hearthstone developed by Blizzard. The new game allows users to choose either the Plants or the Zombies to use. Players get 20 cards of their choosing in a deck and each unit attacks and defends simultaneously, Magic-style.

Users will also be able to travel through a single player adventures aside from the multiplayer, compete in tournaments and recalibrate the pressure in casual mode. Familiar faces of the franchise will also pop now and then.

According to Android Police, new Super Hero classes of plants and zombies are introduced to the game. Some of them include an elusive but powerful peashooter called The Green Shadow and a zombie imp hero with the ability to create multiple clones called Impfinity.

Plants vs. Zombies Heroes will have over 3000 new characters with unique animations that are expected to boost the game and become more accessible to a larger group of people. The game has already soft-launched in New Zealand but the planned worldwide launch date has yet to be announced.