Mobile battle royale is about to get a fantasy twist. BladeRite: Rivals — a fast-paced, melee-focused battle royale — has officially announced its next major test phase, dubbed the "6-7 BETA". The closed beta kicks off on April 23, 2026 and will be available on Android for players in select regions around the world.
From Project A to BladeRite: Rivals
If the game looks familiar, that's because it is. BladeRite: Rivals was previously known as Project A: Melee Battle Royale when it was first unveiled last year. The title went through several early testing phases under that original name, so returning players will find the core visuals and gameplay largely recognizable. The rebranding reflects the developers' intent to position the game as a more polished, retail-ready product as it moves closer to a full launch.
What Sets BladeRite: Rivals Apart
Most battle royale titles live and die by gunplay. BladeRite: Rivals throws that rulebook out entirely. Every fight is settled at close range — think swords, special abilities, and a healthy dose of fantasy magic. This shifts the focus from long-range positioning to moment-to-moment decision-making: reading your opponent, timing your strikes, and knowing when to dodge.
Matches are deliberately brief, clocking in at roughly 7 minutes per round. That's a deliberate design choice aimed squarely at mobile players who want a complete battle royale experience without committing 20–30 minutes per session. Up to 20 players drop into each match, keeping the action dense and encounters frequent.
Playable Characters
BladeRite: Rivals features a growing roster of unique fighters, each presumably carrying their own skills and playstyle. Characters confirmed so far include:
- Karlbrujah
- Sethelia
- Peggy
- And more to be revealed
With ability-driven combat at the centre of the experience, character selection is likely to play a meaningful role in strategy — both individually and, potentially, in team compositions if group modes are offered during the beta.
6-7 BETA: Dates, Regions & What to Expect
Available Regions
The closed beta will be accessible to Android players in the following countries:
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia
- 🇵🇠Philippines
- 🇹🇠Thailand
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇪🇬 Egypt
- 🇮🇶 Iraq
Timeline
The beta officially begins on April 23, 2026. An end date has not yet been confirmed by the developers, so players in supported regions should dive in early and check the official channels for updates on when the test window will close.
Should You Sign Up?
If you're a mobile gamer looking for something genuinely different from the standard gun-based battle royale formula, BladeRite: Rivals is worth a look. The fantasy melee concept is fresh for the genre, and the short match format makes it easy to slot into a busy schedule. Players who tested the game under its Project A name will already have a head start on understanding the core mechanics.
Keep in mind that beta builds are inherently rough around the edges, and the developers themselves have acknowledged that the final product may look quite different. That said, betas are also the best time to help shape a game — feedback from this phase will almost certainly influence the road to release.
Stay tuned for more details as the 6-7 BETA rolls out. Whether this marks a breakthrough for melee battle royale on mobile or needs more time in the forge, we'll have a clearer picture once players get their hands on it starting April 23, 2026.
