After years of rumours and speculation, Blizzard announced on May 3 that the Warcraft universe would be coming to mobile in a new way. Rather than adapt the World of Warcraft MMO for touchscreen devices, however, Warcraft Arclight Rumble was born to bring the game back to its RTS roots in a new (yet familiar) way. From the Warcraft Arclight Rumble release date and beta details to the full character list and more, here's what we know.
The game's official website paints a simple picture for the game: Warcraft Arclight Rumble is "... a mobile action strategy game set within the Warcraft universe where collectible Minis come to life to battle in frantic melee skirmishes." Simply put, it's Clash Royale meets World of Warcraft, which doesn't quite line up with rumours and reports, but it's not far off at all.
For more mobile Blizzard outings, read up on what we know about the Diablo Immortal class change feature, or maybe even our review of the Heartstone Alterac Valley meta in case you haven't played for a little while.
When Is the Warcraft Arclight Rumble Release Date?
Despite having been quietly acknowledged for a while now, there's no Warcraft Arclight Rumble release date set just yet. In true mobile game fashion, Blizzard is taking the regional beta test approach before locking down a firm release date.
This generally involves trialling the game in regions where mobile games are known to perform well - presumable to give the team the feedback they need to make any final gameplay changes that could make or break the experience for those in countries where mobile games are usually blissfully ignored.
When Is the Warcraft Arclight Rumble Beta?
The only information about the Warcraft Rumble beta is that it'll be "starting soon." Both the reveal livestream and the marketing material were quick to avoid giving any solid dates.
How Can I Sign Up for the Warcraft Arclight Rumble Beta?
Registering for the Warcraft Arclight Rumble beta and the full release seem to be one and the same in terms of processes. You can sign up for the game here. If you're in one of the selected beta regions and chosen to take part, you'll likely get a download notice whenever the test goes live.
You can pre-register on Google Play via the website or your phone/tablet, or through the Battle.net account you typically use to play other Activision Blizzard games. iOS/iPhone sign-ups aren't live just yet.
Will Warcraft Arclight Rumble Be on PC?
Though Warcraft Arclight Rumble has only been confirmed for mobile right now, it's still possible that the game could come to PC. It features a design that's very keyboard/mouse-friendly out of the box, and with Android emulators being a popular choice for mobile games in some areas, it wouldn't be hard to imagine Blizzard taking a more official approach.
Likewise, the ability to sign up and log in with your Battle.net ID could be another small clue. After all, Blizzard did recently surprise players with news that the mobile-specific Diablo Immortal is coming to PC on the same day it hits phones and tablets around the world as well.
What Is Warcraft Arclight Rumble?
Situated somewhere between popular mobile title Clash Royale, the iconic Bloons TD series, and Warcraft's RTS roots, Warcraft Arclight Rumble has you dropping little character figurines into a variety of linear and branching maps, with the aim generally being to travel upward and destroy your opponent's base before they get yours.
Collectable resources dotted along the way make for some quick strategic thinking, but it's mostly about taking calculated risks and watching the results play out in real-time before throwing more resources down to mitigate your mistakes or pile on the pressure.
Is Warcraft Arclight Rumble Multiplayer?
Warcraft Arclight Rumble features single-player progression, multiplayer PVP matches, Guild systems, dungeons and co-op raids. We'll have to wait for the next gameplay reveal to really understand what half of these modes mean, but it's already looking like the game won't be some one-and-done release.
We'll have more on Warcraft Arclight Mobile as it releases. Until then, read up on what we know about the upcoming Warcraft Dragonflight expansion and the return of Wrath of the Lich King Classic later in the year.