Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
The New Magic The Gathering Star Trek Crossover Set Will Beam Down to STLV
Wizards 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 interested
Beamdog 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 Unleashed
Wizards 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 unionized
Developers 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.
United Wizards of the Coast Union Has Officially Been Formed
Developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena have officially formed the United Wizards of the Coast union, affiliated with the Communication Workers Association. The union, established with a majority vote from 79 out of 102 employees, aims to negotiate collective bargaining agreements covering layoff protections, remote work, workload sustainability, and AI tool guidelines. Wizards of the Coast has stated they will engage in good faith negotiations.
Magic: The Gathering Arena devs' union officially elected, following claims Wizards of the Coast were dragging their heels on voluntary recognition
The union representing Magic: The Gathering Arena developers, United Wizards of the Coast - CWA, has been officially elected following a petition filed with the US National Labor Relations Board. The union, which previously accused Wizards of the Coast of delaying voluntary recognition, hopes to ratify a contract soon. Members previously cited concerns about layoffs, remote work policies, generative AI, and mandatory crunch as reasons for unionizing.
Wizards of the Coast Releases Revised Dungeons & Dragons Villainous Unearthed Arcana
Wizards of the Coast has released revised Dungeons & Dragons villainous Unearthed Arcana content, incorporating player feedback on subclasses like the Circle of Titans Druid and Hell Knight Fighter. The company also provided designer insights and clarified the future of various playtest subclasses, confirming that the Circle of Titan Druid, Warrior of Venom Monk, and Path of Lament Barbarian may see future revisions, while the Primordial Patron Warlock will not. Feedback on Villainous Path Feats like Lich and Death Knight was positive, suggesting potential inclusion in future supplements.
This 150-card MTG TMNT bundle box is finally seeing some discounts, but it looks set to sell out any time now
The Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bundle box, containing over 150 cards and exclusive themed art, is currently available for $56 at Best Buy, a $14 discount from its MSRP. This deal is noted as a 'Trending Deal' and may indicate limited stock, with the article suggesting it could sell out soon. While other Magic: The Gathering discounts are scarce ahead of Prime Day, this specific bundle is highlighted as a worthwhile purchase for fans of the franchise.
White Wolf Announces Vampire: The Masquerade – Bound by Blood Coming to D&D Beyond
Ghostfire Games and White Wolf are releasing Vampire: The Masquerade – Bound by Blood, a new book for Dungeons & Dragons, on D&D Beyond in July. This collaboration introduces an official Kindred class with unique mechanics and includes a prewritten adventure set in the Dark Ages. This partnership aims to introduce more players to the World of Darkness franchise.
Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’s Draft Night Kit Is Discounted Ahead of Prime Day
The Magic: The Gathering – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Draft Night kit is currently available for $82, down from its original price of $120, ahead of Amazon Prime Day. This kit is designed for a 4-player "Pick Two" draft format, offering a faster and more accessible alternative to traditional drafts. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set is one of several "Universes Beyond" crossover sets released by Wizards of the Coast in 2026.
Magic: The Gathering Cards From Unreleased Hatsune Miku Secret Lair Deck Have Leaked
Screenshots of cards from an unreleased Hatsune Miku Secret Lair deck for Magic: The Gathering have leaked online, potentially due to a shipping error. The leaks include a commander card and several other cards with a music and song theme, suggesting a White/Green Commander deck. This follows a previous leak of a sealed deck that sold for over $2,700 on eBay.
Baldur’s Gate TV Show Gets A Positive-Sounding Update About The Cast
Craig Mazin, the showrunner for the upcoming Baldur's Gate TV series, has indicated a desire to feature the key cast members from Baldur's Gate 3 in the show. Samantha Béart, who voices Karlach in the game, shared this positive update, noting Mazin's personal outreach. Larian Studios' Swen Vincke also confirmed discussions with Mazin, who is a fan of the game, and stated that the game's endings were designed to allow for future narrative expansion.
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked Launches Today on Nintendo Switch 2
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked has launched today on Nintendo Switch 2, featuring cross-platform play with other supported platforms. The digital tabletop game introduces a new playable Orc Druid hero named Gruda Razortusk across all versions. Resolution Games and Wizards of the Coast are offering a co-operative adventure with tactical combat and story-driven campaigns.
Magic: The Gathering Marvel Interview – Wizards of the Coast Discusses Commander Decks, Future Marvel Sets, and Design Secrets
Wizards of the Coast designers Dave Humpherys, Jadine Klomparens, and Daniel Holt discuss the upcoming Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes set, focusing on Commander Decks, character design, and the development process. They highlight iconic characters like Thanos and the Fantastic Four, the design of transform cards, and the strategic choices behind deck construction. The interview also touches on the broader Universe Beyond initiative and potential future collaborations.
Baldur's Gate 3 from the OG devs didn't happen despite years of trying because the money people thought "It's a single-player RPG, it's not going to do that big in numbers"
Former BioWare developer Trent Oster revealed that his team's attempt to secure funding for Baldur's Gate 3 years ago was rejected by investors who doubted the commercial viability of single-player RPGs. Oster's vision for the game was a smaller, $20 million project, in contrast to Larian Studios' eventual massive success. He notes that even after Baldur's Gate 3's triumph, the perception of what constitutes a successful RPG has shifted to require larger budgets and more extensive features.
BioWare's co-founder fought to make Baldur's Gate 3 for over a decade, then Larian did it instead: 'I…
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster discusses the long and difficult journey to get Baldur's Gate 3 made, with multiple studios like Black Isle, Obsidian, and Beamdog attempting and failing to secure funding over two decades. Beamdog, led by Oster, pitched a version to Wizards of the Coast but ultimately could not secure the necessary $20 million budget, leading them to pursue other projects. Oster reflects on Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, acknowledging their greater capital and ability to execute their vision at a high scale.
Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach actor teases more about whether the "key cast" will return for the HBO sequel…
Samantha Béart, the actor for Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3, has teased the potential return of the game's "key cast" for the upcoming HBO television sequel series. Show creator Craig Mazin has expressed interest in having the main actors appear, though Béart's comments were characteristically humorous and left the specifics open to interpretation. Mazin previously worked on HBO's The Last of Us adaptation.
Wizards of the Coast Announces Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Delays
Wizards of the Coast has announced delays for various products in the upcoming Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes set due to shipping and production issues. The exact timeline for these delays varies by region, with North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America all experiencing different impacts on specific product types like Commander Decks, Jumpstart Packs, and Bundles.
