Former Rainbow Six developers are working on a new strategy game at Amazon with a fictional World War setting. However, instead of a classic RTS, it is a completely new type of MOBA.
The term MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) tends to trigger a similar flight reflex in single-player fans as Anti-Brumm does in mosquitoes that disturb every idyllic summer evening outdoors. However, March of Giants bears the title MOBA
mainly on paper, at least in its current form. That’s because developer Amazon Games Montréal wants to put its own stamp on the genre and is deliberately avoiding comparisons with giants such as League of Legends or DOTA .
The vision behind March of Giants is not to create another tactical arena game with a fantasy setting, but rather a real-time strategy game set in World War I with fantasy heroes. The studio has plenty of experience in the multiplayer arena: Amazon Games Montréal is home to the original team behind the tactical shooter Rainbow Six: Siege. Now, March of Giants aims to combine this knowledge with its own passion for strategy.
We were given a first look at March of Giants during a presentation and Q&A, including alpha gameplay. Although we are unfortunately not yet allowed to show this, we will explain in detail what is behind the new game and why it could be exciting even for MOBA skeptics.
Currently, we can only show press material provided by Amazon in the form of artwork – no trailers or screenshots. However, we have already seen gameplay material ourselves. As soon as trailers or screenshots are released, we will upload them here on GlobalESportNews for you.
MOBA or RTS: What is March of Giants?
March of Giants describes itself as a “war MOBA.” The developers explain that they deliberately wanted to move away from the typical battle arena (the A in MOBA). Instead, March of Giants aims to truly capture the feeling of a massive battlefield, as is otherwise known from real-time strategy games:
March of Giants is our attempt to integrate the epic scale of war into the MOBA genre. We wanted to create something that combines the tactical depth of a traditional MOBA with innovative mechanics that allow players to control huge armies and deploy them tactically on the battlefield.
This is how Creative Director Xavier Marquis roughly summarizes the idea behind the game. And during the presentation, we also notice that March of Giants looks more like Company of Heroes than League of Legends at first glance.
March of Giants is packed with strategy
First, there is the setting, which is based on World War I. Due to its fantastical elements, March of Giants is not a historical game, but its visuals are much more grounded than those of DOTA or LoL. In a fictional version of the early 20th century, so-called giants are used as superweapons in war – by both sides.
This is somewhat reminiscent of Iron Harvest, which introduced mechs into the combat of that era, or the popular anime Attack on Titan. In March of Giants, the armies make use of magic and science, so we can expect artificially modified giant soldiers and mystical creatures such as werewolves.
However, you don’t trudge across the battlefield as a lone giant, but command units around you. These foot soldiers play a crucial role in bringing down other giants, holding positions, or destroying enemy structures. They are somewhat reminiscent of the minions in classic MOBAs, but function more like units in RTS games because you can give them instructions.
Another strategic aspect is base building, which will be possible in MOBA, at least in a slimmed-down form. You don’t build a base and produce units, but you do place military buildings strategically on the map to strengthen your team’s influence and control. Bunkers or turrets then offer you cover or intervene in the fighting.
Where March of Giants becomes a MOBA
However, the team spices up this typical real-time strategy approach with giants, who compete against each other in teams of four. As one of these giants, you are part of the battle yourself and not a commander directing it from above.
Much like in League of Legends, your giant levels up during the match and becomes stronger. According to the developers, it should therefore be possible for one of the four to become significantly stronger than the others if they play smart. So you can become the carry
for your team.
Each giant also has unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. However, there will be no fixed roles or classes, so you will have much more freedom in your strategy than with mid laners, supports, AD carries, and so on.
According to Amazon, 15 different heroes are already playable in the previously announced closed alpha. The size of the roster at release is not yet known.
How does March of Giants play?
We haven’t been able to try March of Giants ourselves yet. Our impressions are based on an alpha gameplay trailer that was shown during the presentation. It was only a few minutes long, but it gave us a solid feel for the battles.
These primarily take place on a city map with buildings and streets, which is somewhat reminiscent of a fictional version of Paris in the 20th century. It is not yet known whether and how additional battlefields or modes will be integrated into the game. Basically, four players on each side compete against each other in two teams, including their own buildings and soldier units. A match is won when one side advances into the enemy base, just like in a classic MOBA.
You control the giants towering above the houses directly, while your soldier units scurry around you. You command them to strategically destroy towers or capture other enemy structures and thus advance. This requires teamwork: since you can’t be everywhere on the map at once, you have to coordinate with your team and cover different areas. Or you can fight together and risk the enemy breaking through in other areas.
This alone should provide plenty of strategic leeway on a macro level – where you are and where and how you place your soldiers should greatly influence the outcome of a battle. But the micro aspects, i.e., how you fight with your giant, also play an important role. Here, it’s important to pay attention to skill synergies and cooldowns.
For example, sending your soldiers to destroy a structure may give you a tactical advantage, but it also makes you more vulnerable to an enemy giant. If you defeat one, it will get back up, but enemy structures such as towers will remain on the ground.
When can you play?
March of Giants is a free-to-play MOBA that will be released exclusively for PC via Steam. There is no specific release date yet, but a closed alpha will take place from September 2 to 10, for which players from North America can register first.
Since the game is still in an early stage of development, the main goal is to gather feedback in order to make any necessary adjustments. March of Giants may therefore change significantly based on initial player experiences.
Later, however, the War MOBA
will also be playable in Europe and other regions. The game will be financed through cosmetic items such as skins, so there will likely be no Pay2Win.
Editor’s conclusion
When I heard that Amazon was working on a MOBA, I was very skeptical at first. I remember well the early days of New World and the realization that even a genre as popular as MMOs is not enough to immediately generate a successful game.
After the first gameplay, however, I am at least curious to see more, because March of Giants does not even try to be a new League of Legends. Its concept, which is more similar to RTS games, could introduce strategy fans to the MOBA genre who have previously had little interest in fast-paced battles in small arenas.
However, Amazon should not underestimate this undertaking. Keeping the gameplay under wraps does not exactly inspire confidence. Nor does the answer to a journalist’s question about whether the game was inspired by conventional MOBAs. “Honestly, no,” a developer replied curtly.
This may be good news for fans of classic strategy games, but MOBAs are successful for a reason – the mix of tactics and competitive PvP battles is a hit thanks to many intricate, precisely coordinated adjustments in balancing, design, variety, and mechanics. If March of Giants wants to not only establish itself here, but even revolutionize the genre, Amazon needs to know not only its target audience, but also its competition. Even if it doesn’t want to bring them down.
