MTG Universes Beyond plans could change the game as fans know it

Universes Beyond is here to stay, and large-scale crossover sets will soon become the norm.

There’s no question that Universes Beyond: Tales of Middle Earth is one of the most successful MTG sets ever. The set’s sales broke all MTG records, as well as dispelling doubt over whether Universes Beyond could be creative and engaging, rather than a simple cash-grab tie-in.

Tales of Middle Earth may have shaped the direction of Magic: The Gathering going forward, as Hasbro and WOTC are eager to replicate the set’s successes. To that end, MTG will now release two Tales of Middle Earth-sized Universes Beyond products each year, alongside the regular four premier sets.

MTG Universes Beyond is growing incredibly quickly

WOTC/Skybound

Not too long ago, Universes Beyond was a bold new endeavor for MTG, rather than a sure-fire hit. The ground was first laid with Universes Beyond: The Walking Dead, with its small number of crossover cards surprising and upsetting some fans through being legal in other MTG formats.

Universes Beyond’s first true evolution came in the form of Warhammer 40K’s Commander decks. These decks blew many MTG players away, being both loyal to 40K’s lore and engaging, valuable MTG products in their own right.

While these sets had their successes, Universes Beyond: Tales of Middle Earth was the real game-changer. This full-sized set matched the amount of cards in a typical MTG premier set such as Murders at Karlov Manor, and was a gigantic hit among both LOTR fans and Magic players.

Now, it seems that Tales of Middle Earth is the template that many future Universes Beyond products will follow. Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks spoke to investors on February 13th, announcing that 2 of MTG’s 6 yearly premier sets will be Universes Beyond from here on out.

Upcoming MTG Universes Beyond releases

The pace of Universes Beyond shows no sign of slowing down, with both Fallout and Assassin’s Creed sets launching in 2024. While these video game franchises will bring in their share of fans, it’s 2025’s Universes Beyond releases that Hasbro expects to really push the boat out.

As part of the same call with investors, Cocks said that “We believe the brands that will be shipping in 2025 have the same carrying power as Lord of the Rings.” Given that plans are in place for both Final Fantasy and Marvel Universes Beyond sets to launch in 2025, it’s hard to argue that these franchises have enough pop-culture clout to rival Lord of the Rings for many.

Hopefully, the continuing success of Universes Beyond will not impact MTG’s regular sets. As long as Universes Beyond’s design continues to be as inspired and fun to play as existing sets have been, there is room for MTG’s crossovers to co-exist with in-universe releases.

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