The Steam and Epic Games Stores Now Offer Shardbound Open Beta

Shardbound Set to Launch Open Beta

On October 9, the well-liked strategy card game Shardbound, which runs on Ethereum, will go into Open Beta. The game, created by Bazooka Tango, is based on the Layer-2 Immutable zkEVM network on Ethereum. It will be accessible through the Epic Games Store in addition to Steam. In order to improve the gameplay before a full release, the Open Beta will collect user input. Although the beta's expiration date is unknown, it's a crucial chance for the developers to make changes.

Source: X

A turn-based strategy game called Shardbound mixes tactical warfare with deck-building. To command units on a battlefield that is laid out in a grid, players assemble decks of special cards. There are other ways to prevail, such going up against an opponent directly in combat or using economic techniques to outlive them.

After a fruitful crowdfunding effort, Spiritwalk Games, the game's original developer, released it in Early Access in 2017.  However, it never reached full completion. In 2023, Bazooka Tango acquired Shardbound and began adding web3 elements, including NFTs that represent in-game cards.

What to Expect From the Open Beta

On October 9, Shardbound's Open Beta will go live and be accessible on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The option for viewers to join games mid-session, resulting in a more involved experience, is an interesting element of this phase. Player feedback will play a big role in helping the developers refine the game’s mechanics. The beta will remain open for an undetermined period, allowing continuous updates based on community input.

Source: X

Though Shardbound will feature blockchain integration, some features will be limited based on platform restrictions. For example, Steam has restrictions against games that involve NFTs, meaning players won’t be able to fully use NFT features there. However, they can still obtain NFTs representing in-game cards through Immutable’s zkEVM network. These NFTs can be claimed via email codes or through Immutable’s wallet system.

More details about NFT integration and the game’s long-term plans will be shared in the future, as the developers continue to improve Shardbound based on community feedback during the Open Beta phase.