WFM Alexandra Botez is best known for her career as a chess content creator and streamer, but now she’s also entering game development with the launch of her first videogame. Co-produced with indie studio Millions of Monsters, Chess Arena reimagines the classic game as a “fast-paced Chess Battle Royale.”
“Imagine if Fortnite and chess had a baby. What would that look like?” Botez asked in a video released Tuesday on her YouTube channel. “This game started as a wild idea of what chess could be like if it were a videogame. Three years later, it’s finally coming to life and has been one of the most meaningful projects I’ve been part of.”
Chess Arena places up to 40 players on a massive, fantasy-themed chessboard where every move happens in real time. Players command familiar chess pieces, but must also master timing, positioning, and special “ability kits” to outmaneuver their opponents.
According to the studio, the game’s design keeps the spirit of chess tactics, but adds a competitive edge that allows players to attack, dodge, bait, and defend with multiple pieces simultaneously. Battles can range from 1v1 duels to chaotic multi-player brawls as a storm gradually shrinks the board, leaving only one king standing.
I turned chess into a video game:
40 players. Giant chessboard. ONE winner. Also, I added bombs💣
Playtest starts Oct 25th! pic.twitter.com/hmvQAvCwGz
— Alexandra Botez (@alexandrabotez) October 14, 2025
For Botez, Chess Arena marks a new phase in her already multifaceted career. The 30-year-old has built one of the largest online chess audiences together with her younger sister Andrea Botez through the BotezLive channels on Twitch (1.3 million followers) and YouTube (1.8 million subscribers).
Having already played a major role in popularizing the game for wider audiences, her goal is to take that mission a step further by transforming how people experience chess.
The playtest is live on October 25 – November 2 on PC/Steam. Players interested in joining the test phase can sign up via the game’s official Steam page.
The studio promises a “packed schedule of special events, content drops, and prizes” for players fighting their way across the board during the beta period.
