Warcraft Rumble Development Halted Amid Microsoft Layoffs

The full impact of Microsoft's sweeping layoffs is now coming into focus, with Blizzard confirming that its mobile game Warcraft Rumble will no longer receive new content. Developers associated with the project have reportedly been let go.

Warcraft Rumble represented a major initiative by Blizzard to expand the Warcraft franchise into the profitable mobile gaming market. Development commenced in 2016, leading to a 2023 release as a free-to-play tower defense real-time strategy game, drawing inspiration from titles like Clash of Clans. A PC version followed later last year.

In an official blog post, Blizzard acknowledged that Warcraft Rumble "struggled to gain the traction needed for long-term success," and conceded that recent efforts to boost the game's popularity were insufficient to justify ongoing development.

This announcement is part of a broader restructuring at Microsoft, resulting in a 4% reduction of its workforce, equating to just over 9,000 employees. Although most job cuts occurred outside the gaming division, Xbox studios were significantly affected. For instance, Rare's project Everwild was canceled, alongside the planned Perfect Dark reboot. The Initiative studio was also shut down.

Additional cuts impacted King, the developer behind Candy Crush, as well as Bethesda's European operations. An unannounced MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online, was scrapped, and its development team was dissolved. Reports also suggest layoffs at Forza developer Turn 10 and several studios working on the Call of Duty franchise. Microsoft has been compelled to refute rumors of Xbox head Phil Spencer's impending retirement following the launch of the next-generation Xbox.

Blizzard client engineer Alex Apple confirmed on LinkedIn that they were laid off "alongside the entire Warcraft Rumble team." Other developers working on the game shared similar experiences.

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Blizzard stated in its blog post that while Warcraft Rumble will remain accessible, future updates will be limited to routine in-game events and bug fixes, with no new content planned.

Dear Warcraft Rumble Community,  

We are sharing a significant update regarding the future of Warcraft Rumble. Following extensive consideration, we have reached an exceptionally difficult decision. Going forward, we will maintain support for Rumble with updates centered on regular, systemic in-game events and bug resolutions, but we will not be producing new content.  

Warcraft Rumble began its development journey nine years ago as a tribute to the world of Azeroth. It launched in 2023, shaped by feedback from a dedicated global player base and the hard work of a passionate development team—some of whom continue to support Rumble or other Blizzard titles, while others we have regrettably had to say goodbye to. Since its release, the game has faced challenges in aligning with our vision for its long-term viability. The team has been actively listening to community feedback, adjusting priorities, and exploring various avenues for improvement. While these efforts showed some positive signs, they ultimately fell short of establishing a sustainable path for the game.  

Throughout this transition, our priority is supporting our colleagues. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone at Blizzard and within the community who helped bring Warcraft Rumble to life and shared in the unique joy it offers. Your passion and input have been invaluable to us.

The gaming community has responded to the news with disappointment, though many acknowledge it was not entirely unexpected given the game's trajectory over the past two years. Many players are now bidding farewell to Warcraft Rumble and its community, while also expressing support for the developers impacted by these changes.