Bazooka Tango Secures $5M to Scale Tactical Game Shardbound

Bazooka Tango, the gaming studio established by industry veterans from Rockstar and Riot Games, has closed a $5 million funding round. Led by BITKRAFT Ventures, the investment is earmarked for the development of Shardbound, a tactical multiplayer title that blends collectible card game (TCG) mechanics with strategic terrain-based combat.

The studio, founded in 2019 by Bo Daly and Stephan Sherman—the creators of Vainglory—is breathing new life into the Shardbound intellectual property. Originally attempted by Spiritwalk Games in 2015, the project is now being rebuilt with fresh features in partnership with web3 publisher Immutable.

Strategic Gameplay Mechanics

The core experience of Shardbound has been described as a fusion of Hearthstone and Final Fantasy Tactics. Set on a floating fantasy island, the game requires players to manage decks, cast spells, and summon units across a hexagonal battlefield. Tactical depth is provided by terrain navigation, including high-ground advantages and obstacles like boulders.

The game features five distinct commander archetypes, each with unique utility:

• Wayfinders: Specialists in healing, shielding, and mobility.
• Steelsingers: Engineers focused on “Chromia-burning” technology.
• Landshapers: Masters of environmental manipulation and terrain alteration.
• Fatekeepers: Powerful entities capable of bending space and time.
• Bloodbinders: Tacticians who utilize the health of allies to fuel magical abilities.

Beyond traditional combat, Bazooka Tango has implemented a “Victory Point” system. By capturing a “Victory Crystal,” players can win by reaching 10 points, a feature Daly notes adds a new layer of strategic tension to matches. Additionally, a “Super Meter” rewards aggressive play, allowing players to unleash area-of-effect damage once charged.

Growth and Future Roadmap

The studio plans to expand the game’s reach through seasonal releases, leaderboards, and deck-building enhancements. While currently focused on a PC-first experience for its upcoming 2024 launch on Steam and Epic, Daly emphasized the long-term goal of cross-platform accessibility. “We hope to be fully cross-platform within the next year… The most important thing is to be where the gamers are,” he stated.

The initial playtest saw significant engagement, drawing in 50,000 pre-registrations and featuring prominent creators such as @Kripparrian and former Magic: The Gathering Arena director Chris Clay.

The $5 million influx, which included participation from RW3 Ventures, Sfermion, Foresight Ventures, and Builder Capital, will also support the studio’s internal growth. Bazooka Tango is currently scaling its dozen-person team to manage three additional in-development titles. These projects are part of a broader infrastructure initiative intended to link the studio’s various gaming experiences into a cohesive ecosystem.