Chess star and streamer Alexandra Botez has revealed the official trailer for Chess Arena, the upcoming real-time chess battle royale, as the first closed playtests officially open to players.
Developed by Millions of Monsters, the studio co-founded by Botez, Chess Arena reimagines the classic board game as a 40-player survival match.
Instead of turn-based play, every player moves their king simultaneously in real time, creating constant action across a sprawling chessboard. The battlefield doesn’t stay static either, as in true BR fashion, the playable area shrinks, forcing kings into direct clashes until only one remains standing.
Chess Arena closed playtests are now live
Botez has described the game as “Fortnite and chess having a baby,” and the new trailer shows exactly what she means. Each king is a distinct character with unique skills that can tip the balance of a match, while customizable skins let players stand out as they fight through the chaos.
Progression is also key: players earn XP not only by defeating AI-controlled chess pieces scattered around the map but also by taking down rival kings. Leveling up allows players to spawn new chess pieces and raise their core stats, such as movement speed, cooldowns, and ultimate power.
For Botez, Chess Arena is more than just a novel twist on a centuries-old game. She has spoken about wanting to modernize chess and lower the barrier of entry for newcomers, while also giving the existing community fresh ways to engage with the classic strategy.
“Life of a Shein girl”: Broken $40 hairbrush adds fuel to complaints about Taylor Swift’s merch quality