Blizzard Ceases Warcraft Rumble Content Updates Following Microsoft Layoffs

As Microsoft’s extensive layoffs take their toll, Blizzard has confirmed that its mobile game Warcraft Rumble will no longer receive new content, with developers reporting job losses.

Warcraft Rumble marked Blizzard’s ambitious venture into the mobile gaming market, bringing the Warcraft universe to a new platform. Development started in 2016, culminating in a 2023 release as a free-to-play tower defense RTS, drawing inspiration from games like Clash of Clans. The PC version debuted late last year.

In a blog post, Blizzard acknowledged that Warcraft Rumble “hasn’t achieved the sustained success we aimed for,” noting that recent efforts to boost its popularity fell short of supporting ongoing development.

This announcement aligns with widespread layoffs at Microsoft, affecting 4% of its workforce, roughly 9,000 employees. While most cuts occurred outside gaming, Xbox studios faced significant impacts. Rare’s Everwild was canceled, as was the Perfect Dark reboot. The Initiative shut down entirely.

Other studios, including Candy Crush developer King and Bethesda’s European operations, also saw substantial layoffs. An unannounced MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios, creators of The Elder Scrolls Online, was scrapped, with its team reduced. Reports suggest Forza’s Turn 10 and various Call of Duty studios were also affected. Microsoft refuted claims that Xbox executive Phil Spencer plans to retire after the next-gen Xbox launch.

Blizzard client engineer Alex Apple shared on LinkedIn that they, along with the entire Warcraft Rumble team, were laid off. Other team members echoed similar experiences.

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Blizzard stated in its blog post that Warcraft Rumble will remain playable, with updates limited to routine in-game events and bug fixes.

Dear Warcraft Rumble Community,  

We’re sharing a significant update on Warcraft Rumble’s future. After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to focus future updates on routine in-game events and bug fixes, with no new content planned.  

Warcraft Rumble’s development began nine years ago as a tribute to Azeroth, launching in 2023 with contributions from passionate players worldwide and a dedicated team—some of whom continue to support Rumble or other Blizzard titles, while others we’ve had to part with. Despite its enthusiastic community, the game hasn’t met our long-term success goals. The team has worked to incorporate player feedback, adjust focus, and explore new directions, but these efforts haven’t secured the game’s sustainability.  

As we navigate this change, we’re committed to supporting our team members. We deeply appreciate everyone at Blizzard and in the community who helped bring Warcraft Rumble to life, embracing the joy that defines this game. Your passion and input remain invaluable.

While fans expressed disappointment, the news wasn’t unexpected given the game’s performance over the past two years. Many players are now bidding farewell to Warcraft Rumble and its community, while offering support to the impacted developers.