Blizzard has finally unveiled its first Warcraft-centered mobile game, Warcraft: Arclight Rumble. While it is unclear what monetization will look like, the gameplay of Arclight Rumble looks to be fun. Instead of a Pet Battle app like many were requesting, it will be a Clash Royale-style game that prioritizes PvE content over PvP content. Players will be able to control the armies of Azeroth in battles over multiple different maps, and it very well could be a fun game to play for World of Warcraft fans.
Warcraft: Arclight Rumble will not be canon to the Warcraft story, but instead be similar to Hearthstone. Blizzard's choice to go that route makes Arclight Rumble not required for fans of the Warcraft brand, which does not give people a reason to play it beyond curiosity. If Blizzard wants World of Warcraft fans to give it a look, or if they seek to have Arclight Rumble players move to World of Warcraft, it needs to offer some type of incentive.
Blizzard Has Offered Incentives In the Past
Blizzard is no stranger when it comes to offering promotional items for World of Warcraft. The game that Blizzard has offered the most cross-promotional items with is Hearthstone. Hearthstone is very similar to Arclight Rumble, presenting a game that the citizens of Azeroth play. Over the years, Blizzard has offered different items in the game as a way to get players to play both Hearthstone and World of Warcraft.
Players who are able to win three matches in Arena or Play mode in Hearthstone are given the Hearthsteed mount as a reward in World of Warcraft. This mount is a horse flying mount that is only obtainable by playing Hearthstone. Players who complete the tutorial of the Mercenaries mode in Hearthstone are given access to the Sarge mount at no extra charge.
Blizzard has also offered Hearthstone content in certain World of Warcraft subscription tiers and collectors editions. Players could purchase a six-month World of Warcraft subscription and be given Hearthstone card packs, as well as the Tavern Pass for the current and next Hearthstone expansion. Players who also chose to purchase various World of Warcraft expansion pack digital deluxe editions were given themed Hearthstone card backs, along with content for other titles.
Hearthstone is not the only title with Warcraft content that received incentives for World of Warcraft players. Heroes of the Storm includes various Warcraft characters and held an event where players could unlock two mounts, one for World of Warcraft and one for Heroes of the Storm, just by playing the game. Players who used a Warcraft character alongside a friend for 15 matches would receive the Primal Flamesaber mount in World of Warcraft, as well as the Flames of Judgement Charger Mount in Heroes of the Storm.
Arclight Rumble Incentives Could Take Many Forms
If Blizzard wants to give World of Warcraft fans a reason to check out Arclight Rumble, it needs to offer similar incentives. These could take many forms as long as they offer World of Warcraft players some type of cosmetic content. Blizzard could lock a toy or a pet behind a certain match count in Arclight Rumble, it could craft a unique mount that is only obtainable if players progress to a certain level in the PvE campaign, or it could even offer an exclusive transmog item that is themed after Arclight Rumble.
Whatever Blizzard chooses to offer, it needs to be careful. This item cannot be difficult to obtain and should not require a paywall. It also needs to be purely cosmetic and themed after Arclight Rumble in some way. If Blizzard can follow what it did with certain Hearthstone items, it should be no problem. However, if Blizzard chooses to make it hard to obtain or cost money, the promotion will likely not have its intended outcome.
Right now, the general sentiment toward Arclight Rumble is that it looks fun, if a bit generic. If Blizzard wants Warcraft fans to check the game out, it needs to offer some type of cosmetic item they can unlock in World of Warcraft. Doing so will give them a reason to check out the title, and may get them invested further.
Warcraft: Arclight Rumble is currently in development.