If you’ve ever wished the thrill of naval warfare in World of Warships came with a gentler learning curve and speedier matches, your call to action has arrived. Wargaming’s World of Warships: Legends, the streamlined sibling to its flagship ship combat sim, is making its long-awaited debut on PC via Steam. With a closed beta kicking off May 23 and a full release set for 2026, Legends brings its signature blend of accessibility, crossplay, and over 500 meticulously modeled warships to a new fleet of players.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Wargaming |
| Release Date | Closed Beta: May 23, 2024; 1.0 Release: 2026 |
| Genres | Naval Action, Free-to-Play, Multiplayer |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), Consoles, Mobile |
First launched on consoles in 2019, World of Warships: Legends was designed to distill the complexity of the mainline World of Warships into a more inviting, fast-paced experience. If the original’s granular ballistics and lengthy matches sent you overboard, Legends’ shorter skirmishes, streamlined progression system, and intuitive controls aim to keep you at the helm-no naval academy required.
The closed beta, beginning May 23, lets PC players join the fray alongside Legends’ massive console and mobile audience. Beta testers will dive into Versus AI, Arcade, and Standard battle types, while exploring the full tech tree, ship divisions, campaigns, and a roster of 100 historical commanders. It’s a promising opportunity for both naval sim diehards and newcomers to get a taste of what sets Legends apart from its more hardcore counterpart.
Accessibility is clearly the watchword: Wargaming is seeking feedback on the PC-specific control scheme and performance, with a particular eye toward ensuring a seamless experience on Steam Deck. With crossplay enabled across all platforms, Legends aims to bridge the gap between console, mobile, and now PC skippers-an ambitious step, given the varying control preferences and device capabilities involved.
While the full release won’t land until 2026, the early beta period allows PC players to help shape the experience—offering feedback on controls, performance, and crossplay functionality. It’s a smart move, given the challenges of balancing naval action for both mouse-and-keyboard and controller users. If Wargaming can deliver on its promise of smooth performance and intuitive controls, Legends could become the go-to choice for players seeking a less daunting but still deeply strategic warship battler.
With over 500 ships, robust progression, and the ability to play on the go via Steam Deck, World of Warships: Legends is ready to welcome a new armada. Its approachability and focus on accessibility could make it a standout in the crowded free-to-play multiplayer waters—assuming Wargaming follows through on PC optimizations and community-driven refinements in the months ahead.
TL;DR: World of Warships: Legends, the accessible naval combat game from Wargaming, launches its Steam closed beta on May 23. With faster matches, intuitive controls, and full crossplay, it’s set to make a splash with PC and Steam Deck players ahead of its full launch in 2026.
Source: Wargaming via GamesPress