When it comes to MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), the landscape has been relatively stagnant. The games that defined the genre are still available, and some others are still trying to expand the options for players. Amazon Games Montreal is the latest to attempt this with March of Giants, and as it stands, they may just succeed.
A new studio led by former Rainbow Six Siege creative director Xavier Marquis, Amazon Games Montreal, announced the debut of its first title: March of Giants. A new free-to-play 4v4 War MOBA for PC, the game is currently in early development and will soon begin a Closed Alpha test to gather player feedback to help shape its unique take on the genre. And you can jump in if you’re in North America, and can now request access on Steam to participate in the upcoming playtest.
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“March of Giants represents our vision to bring the epic scale of war to the MOBA genre,” said Xavier Marquis, Creative Director at Amazon Games Montreal in a release to media. “We wanted to create something that captures the strategic depth of traditional MOBAs while introducing innovative mechanics that let players command massive armies and deploy tactical structures on the battlefield. This has been a passion project for our team for years, and we’re thrilled to finally share it with players.”
When it comes to MOBAs as a genre, competition is key. Still, the traditional format of heroes has started to feel derivative. While the tentpoles of the genre remain something that I keep coming back to, you can only take so many new heroes doing the same thing. And that’s where March of the Giants comes in.
So, what is March of Giants?
Set in a ravaged urban battlefield blending early 1900s technology with science and magic, March of Giants puts players in the role of towering commanders in the final battle of a century-long conflict. As a “War MOBA,” the game focuses on military themes, allowing players to command thousands of soldiers in strategic, competitive gameplay. Players will lead an army of soldiers and deploy tactical structures known as “Battleworks” on a ravaged urban battlefield.
“Xavier and the Montreal team have an incredible vision for March of Giants, and we believe in their ability to bring a fresh perspective to the MOBA genre,” said Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Games, in the same release. “The team’s passion and experience in creating innovative, competitive games is evident in what they’ve built so far. We’re excited to start gathering player feedback during this Closed Alpha phase, which will be crucial in shaping the future of the game.”
One of the most exciting things about the March of Giants announcement is that it seems to take the strategy aspect that is inherent in MOBA and makes it a grander experience by taking your Giant with not just understanding your lanes and landscape from the perspective of a single player, but also understanding how the forces you control interact with others.
It’s this feature that helps define Amazon Games Montreal’s debut title in a way that adds a flavor to the genre, as a “War MOBA,” March of Giants can endear investment from both long-standing strategy players and MOBA enthusiasts.
During the Closed Alpha, players will have access to a roster of 15 Giants, each with unique tactical abilities. Players can select from 10 Giants initially, with the rest unlocking as they progress through the gameplay experience. Aesthetically, March of Giants is much more akin to top-down RTS titles than some of the MOBAs that come to mind when you hear the genre name. Still, the Giant and their character designs help build investment into your Giant, as you would a traditional MOBA hero.
March of Giants Aims For MOBA Innovations
March of Giants introduces unique mechanics that differentiate it from other MOBAs by giving players control over an entire army.
- Play as a Giant: Dominate the frontlines as a massive war commander with unique abilities in 4v4 battles.
- Lead Your Soldiers: Command thousands of soldiers to rally at your side or direct them to crush enemies.
- Deploy Battleworks: Strategize and outsmart opponents by building tactical structures that help fight enemy Giants and defend your towers.
How to join the Closed Alpha
The Closed Alpha test will focus on gathering player feedback and testing core gameplay elements and technical stability as the development team continues to refine the experience. This initial test is limited to PC players in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and will be available exclusively in English. More regions and tests are planned for the future.
March of Giants will release on PC, with the Closed Alpha running from September 2-10, 2025.
