Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast business and news from across the web.
MTG Hobbit reignites the "no pumpkins allowed in Middle-earth" debate, and yes, it's as wild as it soundsA debate has resurfaced within the Magic: The Gathering community regarding the inclusion of pumpkins in the upcoming The Hobbit set, specifically on basic land cards depicting the Shire. This has reignited discussions about lore accuracy, as pumpkins are not native to Middle-earth according to Tolkien's established world-building, leading to past content restrictions in other Lord of the Rings projects.
New Occult Secrets are Revealed in Dungeons & Dragons Arcana UnleashedPre-orders are now available for Dungeons & Dragons Arcana Unleashed, a new supplement for the tabletop RPG. The release includes two books: a gameplay expansion with new player options and lore, and an epic-level adventure titled Arcana Unleashed: Deadfall set in Thay. Both books are scheduled for release on September 15.
Wizards of the Coast Gives Back with Secret Lair x Global Fund for WomenWizards of the Coast is releasing a special Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop titled 'Global Fund for Women: Their Magic is Limitless.' This collaboration will feature seven Magic: The Gathering cards with alternative artwork celebrating women, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Global Fund for Women, a feminist fund supporting gender justice initiatives worldwide.- Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box Drops to Its Lowest Price Ever at AmazonThe Magic: The Gathering x Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box is currently available at its lowest price ever on Amazon, with a $15 discount. This collaboration combines the popular trading card game with the beloved animated series.
Magic: The Gathering head designer talks about the possibility of an X-Men setMagic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater discussed the possibility of an X-Men themed set, following previous Marvel collaborations. While characters like Wolverine, Storm, and Beast are already present in the Avengers set, Rosewater hinted that more Marvel sets are planned, leaving the door open for a dedicated X-Men release.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Marvel Super Heroes powers up Magic: The GatheringWizards of the Coast has launched the Marvel Super Heroes set for Magic: The Gathering, featuring characters like The Avengers and Fantastic Four. Despite initial community skepticism stemming from the previous Spider-Man set, early reception to Marvel Super Heroes appears positive, with potential for it to become a record-breaking release. The set includes both standard-legal cards and Commander preconstructed decks, catering to players and collectors alike.
OtherSide Entertainment lays off 18 from Thick as Thieves teamOtherSide Entertainment has laid off 18 employees from its Thick as Thieves development team, bringing the total number of recent layoffs to 36. The studio cited the increasing difficulty of commercially viable development for immersive sims as the reason for the cuts, despite a recent investment from Aonic and a reduced scope for Thick as Thieves.
Exodus' character creator won't let you totally mess up its protagonist's "established look" with nose and brow slider chicanery, but you can still pick a beardArchetype Entertainment is taking a curated approach to character customization in their upcoming RPG Exodus, focusing on established looks for protagonist Jun Aslan rather than extensive slider-based options. While players can alter hairstyles, facial hair, and tattoos, core facial features will remain fixed to ensure a defined character. This decision aims to create a more distinct protagonist, though it may disappoint players who prefer deep customization.
Planescape: Torment 2 could've happened, Baldur's Gate 2 veteran says – but Wizards of the Coast didn't want to fund the RPG even though "they were really into what we were doing"Beamdog CEO Trent Oster revealed that a sequel to the acclaimed RPG Planescape: Torment was discussed with Wizards of the Coast, but the company ultimately declined to fund external development. Despite initial interest, Wizards of the Coast cited a lack of funds for external projects, and the studio was unable to secure funding from other sources, leading to the cancellation of Planescape: Torment 2.
Baldur's Gate 4 could've been headed by a Baldur's Gate 2 veteran, but the RPG legend "wouldn't want to compete" against Larian: "That would be insanity"James Ohlen, director of writing and design for Baldur's Gate 2, revealed that Hasbro approached him about developing Baldur's Gate 4. However, Ohlen declined, stating he would not want to compete with the success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and its proprietary engine. He believes a new entry would need to be highly original to succeed, acknowledging Larian's mastery in the RPG genre.
"I would fail, and here's why I would fail" Why Baldur's Gate 2 co-lead turned down Hasbro's request to make Baldur's Gate 4James Ohlen, co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 and lead at Archetype Entertainment, declined Hasbro's request to develop Baldur's Gate 4. Ohlen cited the immense success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and the technical challenges of replicating its engine and tools as reasons for his refusal, preferring to focus on his studio's upcoming game, Exodus.- MTG Marvel Super Heroes Set Has Launched with Huge Amazon Discounts Already Up for GrabsThe Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes set has been released, featuring a collaboration with Marvel. Amazon is currently offering significant discounts of 40% on Play Booster boxes and related merchandise.
"We're talking about at least half a decade of horror": former Exodus lead explains why he wasn't keen on doing a Baldur's Gate 4 despite Hasbro offering the chanceFormer Archetype Entertainment studio head James Ohlen explained his reluctance to develop Baldur's Gate 4, citing the immense pressure to match Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3. Ohlen stated that building the necessary tools and infrastructure from scratch would take at least five years and expressed concerns about competing with the high standard set by the previous game. He has since left Archetype due to burnout.
The New Magic The Gathering Star Trek Crossover Set Will Beam Down to STLVWizards of the Coast will offer an early playtest of its upcoming Magic: The Gathering Star Trek crossover set at the STLV convention in Las Vegas from August 5-9. Attendees can play with the "Star Trek Welcome Decks" before their official November release. The convention will also feature panels and appearances by various Star Trek actors.
Baldur's Gate 2's co-lead designer was asked to make Baldur's Gate 4 after Larian declined: 'Having to compete against Baldur's Gate 3? That would be insanity'Following the success of Baldur's Gate 3, Hasbro sought a sequel, but Larian Studios declined to develop Baldur's Gate 4, despite having a partially playable build. Co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2, James Ohlen, was also approached but refused, citing the difficulty of competing with Larian's acclaimed title and the significant effort required to build a new engine. A remaster of Baldur's Gate 2 is reportedly in development, with former BG2 lead designer Kevin Martens involved.
Planescape: Torment 2 was greenlit by Wizards of the Coast, 'they were really into what we were doing', but it refused to fund the sequel, and nobody else was interestedBeamdog and former BioWare writer David Gaider pitched a sequel to Planescape: Torment, titled Planescape: Unraveled, to Wizards of the Coast. While Wizards of the Coast was initially receptive to the concept, they declined to fund the project themselves, and no other investors were found. The sequel was ultimately shelved by the end of 2016.
Vampire: The Masquerade's D&D crossover is a condescending cave-in to people who are afraid of trying something…This opinion piece discusses the recent announcement of a Vampire: The Masquerade rulebook for Dungeons & Dragons, titled Bound by Blood. While acknowledging its potential appeal to D&D players and character-building enthusiasts, the author expresses frustration with the industry's tendency to integrate existing IPs into D&D rather than promoting dedicated systems for specific genres like horror or vampire themes. The article encourages players to explore dedicated Vampire: The Masquerade systems for a more authentic experience.
Dungeon Masters Season 2 Will Feature Material from Dungeons & Dragons Arcana UnleashedWizards of the Coast announced that Dungeon Masters Season 2 will premiere on July 8th on YouTube, featuring host Jasmine Bhullar and guests Devora Wilde, Neil Newbon, Mayanna Berrin, and Christian Navarro. The season will showcase new player subclasses from the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Arcana Unleashed, and is set in the Anarouch Desert. Additional seasons are planned for later in the year.
Magic: The Gathering Arena developers have successfully unionizedDevelopers of Magic: The Gathering Arena at Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro have successfully unionized, forming the United Wizards of the Coast-CWA. The union's goals include obtaining assurances regarding generative AI, layoff protections, and compensation transparency. Employees voted in favor of unionization following a National Labour Relations Board election after their request for voluntary recognition was denied.