Wizards of the Coast is testing a video game version of its Magic: The Gathering Commander format, according to a Bloomberg interview with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks earlier this week. This announcement is a continuation of the company’s latest push-to-digital strategy, which Cocks told Bloomberg is an attempt to “reach fans where they want to play.”
The game will be distinct from the Magic Arena mobile app, which allows users to play the traditional two-player MtG format. The new Commander game will allow for more than two players, while attempting to make the digital iterations of the trading card game more collectible. This includes collaborations to make more Magic cards with characters from other intellectual properties like Lord of the Rings, Assassin’s Creed, and Marvel.
This announcement comes less than two months since the community-created format changed custodianship. After the volunteer-led Commander Rules Committee banned four cards from sanctioned play events, players and collectors from the community reacted with severe backlash, including alleged threats against the CRC. This response in turn resulted in the CRC handing over stewardship of the format to Wizards of the Coast.
Hasbro has been facing some significant difficulties in the last two years. This includes selling its eOne film and TV business, canceling other video game projects, and laying off roughly 1,900 employees in 2023 — with roughly 100 more slated for later this year — and most recently getting sued by its investors. Overall, WotC-operated properties like Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, alongside mobile games like Monopoly Go, have been the company’s saving grace. In its most recent quarterly earnings report, Hasbro stated that its revenue has declined 15% overall. However, its WotC and Digital gaming segments had a revenue increase of 7%, indicating that as the rest of the toy company continues to struggle, its strongest bet is to invest more in what’s already working. Whether having control of the Commander format, an increase in the number of inter-IP collaborations, and the company’s prioritization of digital play are winning strategies has yet to be seen.
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