Wildcard has kicked off its Road to DreamHack esports campaign with an online Preseason Ladder, running until August 23 and offering exclusive rewards for participants.
Any player who joins will receive a special in-game skin at Early Access launch, while the top three teams each week will win $50 gift cards per player.
The Road to DreamHack Explained
The Road to DreamHack marks the start of Wildcard’s competitive era, giving players the chance to form 2-player teams and compete for real prizes. The event unfolds across several stages, leading to a $5,000 on-site tournament in Atlanta from October 31 to November 2.
The journey begins with the Preseason Ladder, active on Saturdays from August 9 to August 23. This warm-up phase allows teams to test strategies, earn weekly rewards, and prepare for the Qualifier Ladders, which run from September 6 to September 28.
The top two teams from the qualifiers will secure a place in the Atlanta finals, with travel stipends of up to $1,500. A Last Chance Qualifier on October 4 will allow one more team to join the main event.
How to Join the Preseason Ladder
Players can register through the official competition page and choose to create a team, join an existing team, or sign up as a free agent. Matches are held on Saturdays from 2 PM to 8 PM EST. Teams must use different champions, each with their own abilities, and build decks with a mix of summons, Wildcards, and Talents. Matches last up to 10 minutes, with overtime rules determining the winner if the game remains tied.
Participation guarantees an exclusive skin at Early Access launch, while weekly top-three teams will each receive a $50 Steam or Razer Gold gift card. Players from Russia are excluded from winning gift cards during this phase.
About the Game
Wildcard is a free-to-play 2v2 collectible card action game blending MOBA strategy, card mechanics, and third-person gameplay. Players choose unique champions, summon companions, and battle in sports-like arenas. The game, listed on Steam earlier this year, is scheduled to launch in 2025.
Although primarily a web2 game, Wildcard offers optional blockchain-powered rewards through its streaming platform Thousands.tv. In June, the team raised $9 million to support this streaming initiative. More recently, it introduced a quest-based community rewards program that grants in-game currency and cosmetics.