If you love playing tower-defense games, you will have definitely heard of Ironhide Game Studio because of their Kingdom Rush titles. These highly addictive tower defense games are available on multiple platforms, including mobile. Ironhide Game Studio is currently working on its upcoming title, Kingdom Rush Battles, which is still a tower-defense game, but it is a PvP online multiplayer game, which is a first for the franchise. We recently spoke with Ironhide Game Studio and learned more about Kingdom Rush Battles in our exclusive interview. Answering our questions here is Patricia Mazzei, Community Manager at Ironhide Game Studio, along with some fact-checking by Juan Pais, Game Lead.
GH: Tell us a little bit about Ironhide Game Studio. When was the studio formed, and what sort of video games have been released under its banner?
PM: We’re Ironhide Game Studio, an indie studio from Montevideo, Uruguay, founded in 2010. We love making games that are fun, strategic, and a little bit cheeky. Most people know us for the Kingdom Rush tower defense series, including Kingdom Rush, Frontiers, Origins, Vengeance, and our latest, Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance and Kingdom Rush Battles.
GH: What is the favourite game in your studio these days apart from Kingdom Rush?
PM: We’re huge fans of the Iron Marines saga. It’s super fun getting to mix strategy, action, and our signature humor in a space setting, definitely a favorite around the studio!
GH: Tell us about your upcoming title, Kingdom Rush Battles. What sort of game is it, and how does it differ from the other games in your catalog?
PM: Kingdom Rush Battles is our first-ever online PVP game! It’s all about real-time battles against other players, which is a big shift from the tower defense and single-player strategy games we’ve done before. You’ll still see the humor, heroes, and strategy you love, but now you’re facing off against friends and rivals in fast-paced matches.
GH: What was the studio’s main motivation behind going multiplayer for the next Kingdom Rush title?
PM: Going multiplayer is something we’ve always wanted to do, and now we finally had the chance! For those who love our single-player games, not to worry. This isn’t Kingdom Rush 6. We’ll keep making the classic single-player adventures you love, too.
GH: How does multiplayer gameplay work in the game? Will it feature a linear gameplay structure with a single winning condition, or can players aim for multiple winning conditions in a game?
PM: Each player defends their own side, and the first player to lose 3 towers loses the match. As you climb the rankings, you’ll unlock more stages and terrains, towers, heroes, and spells, leading up to the big showdown in the arena.
GH: Will there be any sort of story or main campaign in the game, or will it be strictly PVP?
PM: Kingdom Rush Battles is strictly PVP; there’s no story campaign in this one. But don’t worry, we’ll keep making the classic single-player Kingdom Rush games alongside it!
GH: Will it feature some returning locations from the previous Kingdom Rush titles, or will it feature a brand-new setting?
PM: For now, most of the terrains are returning from previous Kingdom Rush games. But who knows what we might add down the road!
GH: Are there any brand-new towers in the game, or are they all returning ones from previous titles?
PM: Yes! Kingdom Rush Battles features some brand-new towers alongside returning favorites.
GH: Since it is a free-to-play game, what sort of microtransactions can we expect in the game?
PM: Right now, you can purchase gems to get chests, which helps you level up your cards faster. But don’t worry, you can earn the same rewards just by playing and practicing. The game is designed so purchases speed things up, not give you an advantage.
GH: What can you tell us about the Stadium in the game? Will it be some sort of endgame location for high-level players?
PM: Right now, the Stadium is the final terrain where you can compete with the best players. We’re still working on even more endgame content to keep things exciting!
GH: Will Heroes be upgradable in Kingdom Rush Battles?
PM: Yes! You can level up Heroes as cards in your deck, which boosts their stats and upgrades them for tougher battles.
GH: Every Kingdom Rush game is filled with cool references to other franchises. Can we expect them in Kingdom Rush Battles as well?
PM: Yes! There’s still plenty of humor and easter eggs in Kingdom Rush Battles, though with the split-screen format, there are a few fewer references than in our single-player games.
GH: Can we expect a console or PC release for Kingdom Rush Battles in the future?
PM: We’ve heard our fans asking for a console or PC version, and we’re definitely thinking about it! It’ll depend on how the launch goes, but it’s a strong possibility.
GH: What sort of post-launch support can we expect for the game?
PM: We plan to keep updating Kingdom Rush Battles with exciting new content! Shortly after launch, we’ll add a private matches feature, plus new events, terrains, heroes, towers, and spells.
GH: What is the studio’s favourite feature in Kingdom Rush Battles?
PM: Everyone in the studio has their own favorite feature, so it’s hard to pick just one! That said, the beautiful art style is definitely one of our top favorites.
GH: What was the biggest challenge in the development of Kingdom Rush Battles?
PM: The biggest challenge was that we’d never done PVP before! Managing servers, player accounts, and real-time battles was all new territory, but we think we did a great job tackling it!
GH: Was the transition from single-player to multiplayer tough for the studio?
PM: It wasn’t really a full transition since we’re still making single-player games. It was more about building a new team with the right expertise for multiplayer. We’re really excited about the game we made and can’t wait for the global release on October 9th!
Related News:
- Kingdom Rush Battles Announced by Ironhide Games as Franchise Goes PvP
- Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance Unveils Teaser Trailer Ahead of Highly Anticipated Release
Kingdom Rush Battles is slated for release on October 9, 2025, on iOS and Android. You can pre-register on your desired platform and jump into the game as soon as it launches.
Are you looking forward to playing Kingdom Rush Battles, and what do you think about the franchise going PvP for its new game? Let us know in the comments section below.
