Blizzard has announced it will stop developing new content for its free-to-play mobile strategy game, Warcraft Rumble, shifting focus to regular in-game events and bug fixes instead. This move comes as Microsoft undertakes significant layoffs, impacting up to 9,000 employees globally.
The studio revealed that Warcraft Rumble did not meet expectations and struggled to establish a sustainable player base despite several attempts to improve it over recent years. The game was initially announced in 2019 as Warcraft Arclight Rumble, aiming to bring the Warcraft franchise to mobile devices, similar to Blizzard’s Hearthstone.
Warcraft Rumble functions as a more flexible alternative to games like Clash Royale, featuring miniaturized armies battling in PvP and single-player modes, with strategic placement as the core gameplay mechanic.
According to reports, the decision to wind down Warcraft Rumble is tied to Microsoft’s broader restructuring. Some team members will be reassigned within Blizzard, while others will face layoffs. Blizzard has not elaborated publicly on the layoffs but emphasized support for affected staff.
Beyond Warcraft Rumble, the restructuring has led to the cancellation of major upcoming Xbox titles such as Everwild and Perfect Dark. Key industry figures are also departing, including Rare’s Greg Mayles and ZeniMax Online Studios’ Matt Firor following the cancellation of their projects.