Wildcard Opens Its Arena for Free Play During Steam Next Fest

The wait is almost over for one of the most talked-about competitive titles of 2025. Wildcard, the fast-paced arena card battler from the creators of Words With Friends, is about to make its biggest public appearance yet. From October 13 to 20, players will be able to jump into the action during Steam Next Fest — completely free of charge — before Early Access officially launches on October 21.

Let’s dive into what makes Wildcard such a buzzworthy title and why it’s quickly becoming one of the most exciting new blockchain games-adjacent projects to watch this season.

The Perfect Fusion of Action and Strategy

At its heart, Wildcard blends third-person action with card-based strategy, offering a unique hybrid gameplay experience the developers call a Collectible Card Action Game (CCAG). Players battle in 2v2 arena matches, summoning creatures, managing resources, and unleashing powerful abilities through customizable decks.

Each Champion brings distinct skills and personality to the field — and since players also control their characters in real time, every duel is as much about mechanical precision as deck mastery. It’s a thrilling mix of skill-based combat and tactical depth that makes every match unpredictable.

Steam Next Fest: Try Before You Buy

From October 13 to 20, anyone can experience Wildcard firsthand during Steam Next Fest. The free demo offers a full week of hands-on gameplay, letting players explore the mechanics, test different Champions, and experiment with strategic deck builds.

Better yet, the Early Access launch arrives the very next day, on October 21 — so players who fall in love with the demo won’t have to wait long to continue their journey.

The team has hinted that the Steam Next Fest build could feature exclusive rewards or a limited-time Battle Pass, with unlockable skins and other special bonuses. Whether these features appear in the demo remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this preview will be the biggest look yet at the future of Wildcard.

Livestream Preview and New Champion Reveal

Before Steam Next Fest kicks off, the developers are hosting a livestream preview on October 10 at 6 PM EST, led by Brad Weir, the game’s lead designer. The stream will showcase the upcoming demo build and possibly introduce the newest Champion — Lily.

According to early teasers, Lily is Lubabub’s most mischievous guardian, capable of switching between two stances: one focused on ranged healing support, and another designed for melee attacks with poison effects. This duality allows players to adapt mid-battle, acting as either support or damage dealer depending on the team’s needs.

Building a Community and Expanding the Wildcard Universe

Since its first reveal, Wildcard has rapidly built a vibrant and loyal community. The developers have invested heavily in player engagement, raising over $50 million in funding, including a $9 million round in mid-2025 led by Arbitrum Gaming Ventures and Paradigm.

Community growth has been further driven by the Wildcard Alliance’s Rewards Program, which encourages players to complete challenges and earn exclusive in-game cosmetics. Fans who participate now will receive their rewards once Early Access begins on October 21.

Weekly playtests, active feedback sessions, and frequent content updates have also helped the game gain momentum. By August, Wildcard had already surpassed 50,000 wishlists on Steam — a milestone few indie studios achieve before launch.

From Playtests to Esports: The Road to DreamHack

The team isn’t stopping at a successful launch. Wildcard’s first major esports appearance will happen at DreamHack Atlanta, where 12 teams will compete for a $5,000 prize pool from October 31 to November 2.

Online qualifiers began back in August, featuring a preseason ladder and weekly tournaments. Top performers earned exclusive in-game skins, travel stipends, and early access to competition builds. The timing couldn’t be better — with Early Access arriving right in the middle of the qualifier season, players will have a perfect chance to refine their strategies ahead of DreamHack.

This push into competitive play shows that Wildcard isn’t just aiming to be a fun casual brawler — it’s positioning itself as a serious esports contender with real prize support and organized structure.

Web3 Roots and Streaming Rewards

Although Wildcard itself is fully web2 in gameplay, it’s powered behind the scenes by Thousands.tv, a creator-focused web3 streaming platform that rewards both streamers and fans for participation.

Thousands.tv enables in-stream item drops, referral tracking, and predictive challenges — all backed by the $WC token, which powers an innovative feature called the Meta Oracle. This tool allows users to stake credits to predict in-game outcomes, earning rewards from prize pools based on their accuracy.

What’s most impressive is how this streaming ecosystem turns viewership into a participatory economy. Some top streams have reportedly generated over $130,000 in revenue, while conversion and retention rates remain incredibly strong. It’s a clever integration that enhances community engagement without disrupting Wildcard’s pure gameplay experience.

October Marks a Turning Point

With Steam Next Fest just around the corner and Early Access right behind it, October is shaping up to be the most important month yet for Wildcard. The game is stepping into the public spotlight — not just as an arena battler, but as a living, evolving ecosystem that blends competitive action, community rewards, and creator-driven innovation.

Whether you’re an esports competitor, a card battler fan, or simply curious about the next wave of blockchain gaming innovation, Wildcard is a title you don’t want to miss.

Wishlist it on Steam, tune in for the October 10 livestream, and prepare to enter the arena from October 13 to 20. The future of action card battlers is about to go live — and it looks wildly fun.