Shardbound is Launching its Open Beta on Steam and Epic Games.
The long-awaited strategy card battler Shardbound, built on Ethereum’s Immutable zkEVM, is finally moving into open beta on October 9th. The game, often described as a mashup between Hearthstone and Fire Emblem, is making a comeback after years of development, landing on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
How to Participate?
Starting October 9th, you’ll be able to access Shardbound through both Steam and Epic Games Store. That’s right—two of the biggest PC gaming platforms are hosting the beta. To join, all you need to do is download the game from either platform once the beta goes live.
The open beta doesn’t have a set end date just yet. Developers Bazooka Tango plan to keep it running for “as long as it needs to” in order to fine-tune the game and listen to player feedback. So, if you love helping shape a game’s development (and flexing your strategic muscles), this is your chance!
What is Shardbound?
In Shardbound, players step into a richly detailed world where deck-building meets turn-based combat. Imagine a mix of tactical warfare, collectible card game mechanics, and RPG elements, all wrapped up in one beautiful package. Sound intriguing?
Each match in Shardbound offers different ways to secure victory. You can build aggressive decks for all-out combat, or you can play the long game and try for an economic win, much like in classic strategy titles like Sid Meier’s Civilization. Whether you’re looking to outsmart your opponent with clever plays or go full-throttle on the battlefield, there’s plenty of room for creativity.
If you feel like you’ve heard the name Shardbound before, you’re not wrong. The game first appeared in 2017 through a Kickstarter campaign. Originally built by Spiritwalk Games, it only made it to Early Access before the project fizzled out. Fast forward to last year, and Shardbound has been revived by Bazooka and Immutable Games, who added exciting web3 elements to the mix.
What About Rewards?
As part of the lead-up to the beta, Shardbound is offering special Open Beta Rewards, such as free playable cards, which players can unlock through activities like completing the official Gleam campaign or joining the let-me-play channel on Discord.
But that’s not all. Bazooka is already planning future updates for Shardbound, with big changes coming to cards, stability improvements, and even vaulted cards that will return better than ever.