What's Happening?
Magic: The Gathering is set to introduce a new draft format called Pick Two Draft, aimed at facilitating smaller crossover sets. This format involves four players, as opposed to the standard eight, who will select two cards from their Play Boosters and pass them to their left and right. Corey Bowen, a senior game designer at Magic, explained that this format is designed to accommodate casual players and smaller groups, while also enabling the creation of smaller Universes Beyond sets. The Pick Two Draft format is seen as a solution to represent specific corners of popular universes, such as Marvel's Spider-Man, without the need for a full set of over 300 card concepts.
Why It's Important?
The introduction of the Pick Two Draft format is significant as it allows Magic: The Gathering to explore more partnerships and collaborations with various intellectual properties. This approach could lead to more diverse and frequent crossover sets, expanding the game's appeal to different audiences. By focusing on smaller sets, Magic can incorporate popular franchises that may not have enough content for a full set, thus broadening its market reach. This strategy aligns with Magic's recent push for Universes Beyond collaborations, which have included major IPs like Final Fantasy and Doctor Who.
What's Next?
Magic: The Gathering is expected to announce a new collaboration with Nickelodeon at New York Comic-Con on October 10. This will be the third partnership between Magic and Nickelodeon, following previous collaborations involving Spongebob Squarepants and Avatar: The Last Airbender. The upcoming panel will reveal details about the new crossover and its scale. If the Nickelodeon collaboration does not utilize the Pick Two format, Magic will likely apply it to future Universes Beyond crossovers, allowing for more creative and varied partnerships.
