Alexandra Botez unveils Chess Arena trailer as closed playtest opens for battle royale chess game

Chess star and content creator Alexandra Botez has revealed the official trailer for Chess Arena, a new real-time battle royale chess game, as closed playtests officially open to players.

Developed by Millions of Monsters, the studio co-founded by Botez, Chess Arena transforms the traditional board game into a large-scale 40-player survival match.

Instead of the familiar turn-based system, every player moves their king simultaneously in real time, creating fast-paced and unpredictable action across a massive chessboard.

The shrinking battlefield forces players into increasingly intense encounters until only one king remains. Describing the project, Botez said the concept is like “Fortnite and chess having a baby.”

The trailer highlights a mix of strategy and chaos, showcasing each king as a unique character equipped with special abilities and customisable skins.

Progression plays a central role in the experience. Players earn experience points by defeating both AI-controlled chess pieces scattered across the arena and rival kings.

As players level up, they can summon additional pieces and enhance key attributes, such as movement speed, cooldowns, and ultimate abilities, to improve their chances of survival.

Botez has stated that Chess Arena aims to modernise chess for new audiences while keeping its strategic depth intact for long-time fans. She hopes the game will make chess more accessible to casual players while offering a new challenge for experienced competitors.

The closed playtest for Chess Arena is now available, allowing players to experience the hybrid of traditional strategy and real-time competition for the first time. Interested participants can register for early access through the official website at chessarena.gg.