Summary
Vanguard Exiles, the latest game from the creator ofMagic: The Gathering, will be entering early access on March 11. Richard Garfield has previously collaborated with gaming studios on board game-inspired titles likeKard Combat. However, this new project stands out as it moves away fromMagic: The Gathering’s gameplay style, bringing Garfield’s vision to an entirely new genre: auto battlers.
Explaining his decision to explore theauto battler genre, Richard Garfield said, “[Auto battlers] fill this hole in my digital gaming.” He noted that while they share familiar mechanics with board games, they still offer a fresh experience. Garfield made these remarks inan interview with Australia’s Zed Gameswithout discussing the game’s release date or launch details. However, following the interview, the game’s developer, The Tea Division, confirmedVanguard Exiles’early access launch date.
According to the development team,Vanguard Exiles' early access begins on June 05, 2025. The official roadmap confirms that players will have access toPvP and couch co-op modes, along with new units, factions, and zones. The early access phase is expected to last between six months to a year, with community feedback playing a key role in refining the game’s mechanics. Gameplay-wise,Vanguard Exilesfollows a deploy-and-capture system, where players place units in different areas to strategically eliminate enemy troops and take control of zones. As they progress, unlocking more powerful units with Gold lets them fight on larger maps against stronger enemies.
Richard Garfield’s New Game Is a ‘Massively Modular’ Title
Based on what Richard Garfield and The Tea Division have revealed,Vanguard Exilesis designed as a “massively modular game” featuring a steampunk-inspired 2D art style. The modular elements are zones, factions, units, and actions, which interact to create RNG-driven battle outcomes. So, while the core objective is straightforward—deploy units in zones and conquer them—the numerous variables in each match turnVanguard Exilesinto a ratherhardcore strategy game.
Players eager to tryVanguard Exilesfor free can download its demo on Steam, available since August 2024. This offers a chance to preview the gameplay before early access. The Tea Division will also showcaseVanguard ExilesduringFebruary’s Steam Next Fest, giving fans a glimpse of exclusive content ahead of the launch. It’s worth noting that the game’s early access and final pricing haven’t been disclosed, but based on other auto battlers on Steam, it’s expected to fall within the $15 to $20 range.
