Wildcard will be free to play from October 13 to 20 during Steam Next Fest, with Early Access launching the very next day on October 21. This 1-week demo gives players an early chance to try the card-based arena brawler directly through the game's Steam page. A new gameplay trailer is also now available.

Created by the team behind Words With Friends, Wildcard combines fast 3rd-person combat with card-based strategy in competitive 2v2 battles. The game has already been approved for full release on Steam and continues to grow through regular testing and active community streams.

Steam Preview Event Coming Ahead of Launch

An official livestream preview hosted by lead designer Brad Weir is scheduled for later today, October 10, at 6 PM EST. The broadcast is expected to showcase the build planned for Steam Next Fest and may include a closer look at a new Champion, Lily, along with a free Battle Pass. These features have been hinted at on Wildcard's official Discord server, though nothing has been confirmed as of now.

The Steam Next Fest version of the game will be free to play and, according to the team, it might also include exclusive rewards or limited-time content. One teaser mentioned a Battle Pass with unlockable skins, but no final list of content has been shared yet.

What to Expect From Wildcard

Wildcard is described as a Collectible Card Action Game (CCAG), where two-player teams battle in real time using Champions and customizable decks. Players summon creatures, control the battlefield, and aim to destroy the opposing team's base. The game's hybrid design combines classic card game with skill-based action, all from a 3rd-person perspective.

Each Champion brings their own abilities and playstyle, and the cards used in matches summon units that fight alongside the player. Timing, positioning, and resource management all play a key role, and no two matches feel quite the same.

While Wildcard is fully web2 in terms of gameplay, the project is backed by a separate web3 platform called Thousands. It powers the game's streaming features and supports creator-focused monetization, but has no effect on how the core game plays.

A New Champion Enters the Arena: Lily

Wildcard's next Champion appears to be Lily, described in an official X post as Lubabub's most mischievous guardian. Based on the latest updates, Lily can switch between 2 distinct stances. One stance provides ranged healing support, while the other turns her into a melee attacker with poison effects. These roles suggest she may act as both support and damage dealer depending on the situation. The upcoming Steam preview stream might offer a closer look at how her abilities work in-game.

Community Growth and Development Push

Wildcard has been steadily expanding its community since the start of 2025. Back in June, the team announced a $9 million funding round led by Arbitrum Gaming Ventures and Paradigm. This added to their original $46 million Series A, bringing total funding to more than $50 million.

Since then, the game has launched a quest-based Community Rewards Program, which offers early fans a way to unlock rare cosmetics and in-game bonuses by completing challenges. Players can still join the program before Early Access begins, and rewards earned now will be delivered once the game goes live on October 21.

The Wildcard Alliance has also been running weekly playtests and feedback sessions through Discord and other channels, helping the game refine its mechanics and grow its wishlist count on Steam. As of August, Wildcard already hit 50,000 Steam wishlists. 

Prepping for Competitive Play

Next to the Steam Next Fest build, the Wildcard team is also focused on the upcoming DreamHack esports event, where 12 teams will compete in a $5,000 tournament in Atlanta. The online qualifiers for this event have been running since August, starting with a preseason ladder and moving into full weekend competitions.

The final placement rounds are happening this month, with the Early Access launch day falling right in the middle of the DreamHack qualification period. Qualified teams will travel to Atlanta at the end of this month to compete onsite from October 31 through November 2.

Anyone who joined the preseason ladder automatically earned an exclusive in-game skin to be delivered during Early Access. Top players from each qualifier also received gift cards and travel stipends, making the event Wildcard's first big step into organized esports.

Streaming and Web3 Rewards

While the core game is not connected to the blockchain, Wildcard's developers have built a separate creator economy through Thousands.tv, a streaming platform that lets both fans and content creators earn rewards through live interactions. The platform supports everything from in-stream item claims to trackable referrals and conversions. 

In late August, Thousands introduced a prediction tool called Meta Oracle. This lets users stake credits to forecast in-game changes and earn from prize pools powered by the $WC token, which will be distributed once live.

The team says this kind of activity allows every viewer to become part of the game's wider economy, though again, it remains entirely optional and external to Wildcard's gameplay.

Streaming numbers continue to rise. As of May, top Wildcard streams on Thousands generated up to $134,000 in revenue, while average shows pulled in $50,000. Viewer-to-payer conversion rates reportedly reached 77%, with long-term retention as high as 38% after one month.

What's Ahead for October

With the Steam Next Fest demo about to go live, Wildcard enters its most public phase yet. A full Early Access launch is set for October 21, just one day after the free demo ends. Players can wishlist the game on Steam now to stay notified. 

Details about the Steam Battle Pass remain unconfirmed for now, but more info is expected during the October 10 livestream.