Arcane Wonders is venturing into the world of tabletop gaming with a new strategy title inspired by a popular first-person shooter franchise. The announcement, reported by Polygon, signals a bold attempt to translate the kinetic energy of a blockbuster video game into a board game format that emphasizes strategy, place-based tactics, and tactical captures rather than pure reflexes.
The project is tentatively titled Call of Duty: The Board Game. Its design aims to bring in recognizable elements from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as a touchstone for fans while introducing fresh mechanics around combat flow, movement, and line-of-sight to create an experience that feels both familiar and novel on a tabletop. The goal is to preserve the adrenaline of the video game while letting players engage with it in a slower, more deliberate manner that suits a seated, thoughtful play session rather than a fast-paced screen-based match.
Developers have undertaken a patient, iterative process to shape the game’s core loop. Early versions will focus on two players, enabling tight, competitive duels, with planned expansions and rule updates intended to scale the format to as many as four participants simultaneously. This approach mirrors the publisher’s intent to grow the game over time, adding depth through new modules, scenarios, and balance adjustments that enhance replayability while maintaining accessibility for newcomers.
Funding for the project is currently being sought through a Kickstarter campaign as the team works to finalize components, art, and play-testing schedules. The schedule calls for a backer-exclusive window toward the end of 2023, followed by a broader retail launch in 2024. The strategy behind the crowdfunding effort is to validate demand, gather feedback from early supporters, and ensure production timelines align with manufacturing realities and distribution networks. (Attribution: Polygon reports on the development and timing of the project.)
As the project advances, enthusiasts are watching how Arcane Wonders will translate licensed themes into a cohesive board game experience. This includes how weapons, characters, and recognizable locations from the source material are integrated into mechanics such as movement range, line-of-sight resolution, and combat outcomes. The company’s communications emphasize that the board game aims to capture the spirit of the franchise while delivering a strategic experience that can be enjoyed with friends, family, or dedicated hobby groups. In this context, the game represents a broader trend in tabletop publishing where established video game IPs drive curiosity for new formats, and publishers test the boundaries of adaptation, balance, and player interaction. (Attribution: Polygon coverage of the project’s goals and timeline.)