Bazooka Tango has officially launched the open beta for Shardbound, a fantasy trading card game that incorporates web3 elements and rewards. Players worldwide can now access the game via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Bo Daly, co-founder of Bazooka Tango, emphasized the significance of the open beta, stating:
"This is a huge moment for us, and for the players who've been waiting to get in on the action. We've always believed in creating games that are fun to play but also have that extra depth for those who want to dig in. This is just the start of what we have planned, and I can't wait to see how players take the game and make it their own."
Shardbound Cover Banner on X (Twitter)
About Shardbound
Shardbound is a free-to-play turn-based tactics game built around 3D hexagonal battlefields. Players deploy cards to summon Minions and use Relics to take down the opposing Commander. Each deck requires at least one Commander and one Relic, with Equipment and Spells rounding out strategic options.
Winning happens either by destroying the enemy Commander or by reaching 10 Victory Points through control of Victory Crystals. Right now, Shardbound doesn't include web3 features, but the game will stay free-to-play and eventually support mobile platforms. The team has committed to a monetization model that avoids pay-to-win mechanics.
Open Beta for Shardbound Promotional Graphic
Over 100,000 Pre-Registered Players
With the open beta now live on the Epic Games Store, more than 100,000 pre-registered players are receiving exclusive rewards: one Rare card, one Epic card, and one Legendary card. These cards give players a head start when building decks and jumping into matches.
Shardbound has also partnered with Immutable's Main Quest. Players who complete in-game quests can earn Gems, which convert into IMX tokens.
Stephan Sherman, another co-founder, highlighted the game's narrative focus: "We didn't just want to make another card game. As we said during development, 'Every card, a story', and I honestly hope players will fall in love with the characters and sprawling lore we've hand-crafted for the world of Shardbound."
Shardbound Key Art 1
How to Earn IMX Gems and Tokens
Players can start their Shardbound journey with exclusive card distribution through Immutable Passport wallets or via redemption codes sent by email. This initial drop helps players refine their strategies from the start. The open beta introduces several web3 reward features.
Completing in-game quests earns players 100 Gems, which can be redeemed for IMX tokens. Web3 participation is optional, but players who connect their wallets during the open beta qualify for various non-fungible token (NFT) upgrades. These upgrades are available within specific time windows, with the first upgrade period running from October 9 to October 16. Additional upgrade opportunities extend until November 6.
Shardbound Key Art 2
Bazooka Tango has lined up a series of events to keep players engaged. One event, "Shard and Shield," focuses on player-versus-player (PvP) action with missions that reward exclusive items. New players can earn rewards for consecutive days played, and faction-based events offer chances to expand card collections. Daily login challenges, faction showdowns, and starter packs round out the launch activities.
Final Thoughts
The open beta launch represents a major milestone for Bazooka Tango, combining strategic gameplay with detailed storytelling in a web3-enabled card game. More information is available at the official website here.
