Microsoft’s recent layoffs, which affected around 9,000 employees, are still rippling through the company’s subsidiaries. One notable impact has been at Blizzard, where reports indicate that up to 100 developers have been affected. As a result, Blizzard is winding down development on its mobile tower defense game, Warcraft Rumble.
In an official statement, Blizzard reassured fans that the game isn’t being completely abandoned. However, they announced that no new content will be developed moving forward. Instead, the studio will focus on maintaining the game with regular updates, including systemic in-game events and bug fixes. Blizzard acknowledged that Warcraft Rumble struggled to meet its long-term ambitions, and despite efforts to respond to player feedback, the game wasn’t sustainable.
Warcraft Rumble marked Blizzard’s first foray into mobile gaming within the Warcraft universe. Released in 2023 after nearly nine years of development, it was initially one of two mobile projects Blizzard was working on—one being a mobile game inspired by Pokémon Go. However, that project was never officially announced and was canceled in 2022. Alongside Warcraft Rumble, several other Blizzard titles, including Starcraft II and Heroes of the Storm, are currently in development limbo, reflecting broader shifts within the company.
