Bazooka Tango, the indie game studio founded by former Vainglory creators Bo Daly and Stephan Sherman, is gearing up for an exclusive 10-day playtest of its highly anticipated web3 game, Shardbound. In collaboration with Immutable Games, the playtest, titled "Ascent to the Shards," is set to run from February 21st through March 1st.

Ascent to the Shards

Limited to the first 2,000 players who sign up on their website, the playtest aims to provide an in-depth preview of the game's tactical card combat. Immutable Games, a strategic partner, brings its web3 expertise to co-develop and co-publish Shardbound, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

Building on the momentum gained from a recent $5 million funding injection, Bazooka Tango has refined the game's mechanics based on feedback from early community playtests conducted in the previous year. The playtest serves as a crucial step in transforming the growing anticipation around Shardbound into mainstream fandom.

Alternative Storylines

"Ascent to the Shards" introduces an alternative perspective to the game's storyline, focusing on Venerator Wynn, the antagonist who disrupts the quests of main characters Petra and Sabine. Bo Daly, Bazooka Tango's co-founder, expressed excitement about showcasing the next major development step, featuring fresh gameplay content, an updated game UI, enhanced card distribution systems, additional 2D card art, and ongoing testing of card progression.

Fine-Tuning

Following positive reviews from the Alpha preview in August 2023, Bazooka Tango has diligently worked on enhancing Shardbound's gameplay loop and card progression. The playtest brings forth a host of new features, including a revamped card distribution system, a free battle pass, quests, updated spell and equipment leveling, starter decks, post-game rewards, and an array of new cards, art, and starter decks.

Moreover, a new group of content creators, including renowned players like Kripparian, BruceGreene, YellowPanther, and others, will participate in the playtest, building on the success of the initial Shardbound Creator Campaign.

Anticipated Launch

With over 85,000 players already pre-registered, Shardbound seamlessly blends intricate gameplay, vibrant characters, and immersive worlds, incorporating elements from trading card games (TCG), tactical maneuvers, and digital collectibles.

Upon launch, Shardbound is set to leverage the latest blockchain technology powered by Immutable zkEVM, promising cost-efficient scalability and robust security. As the 10-day playtest unfolds, Bazooka Tango looks forward to further refining the game based on player experiences, paving the way for a successful and engaging launch.