Mark Rosewater, the head designer of Magic: The Gathering, has addressed criticism from fans who believe he has gone back on his promise of making MTG “one cohesive game” without crossover promotions.
These comments come after Wizards of the Coast recently announced upcoming crossover expansions for Magic: The Gathering, featuring sets based on Final Fantasy, Fallout, and the Assassin’s Creed series.
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In 2018, Rosewater was asked about the possibility of licensing a different intellectual property (IP) and creating cards for it. He responded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining Magic as a cohesive game without mixing different elements.
“We want Magic to be our thing and not someone else’s,” he stated. He further expressed the preference for developing their own worlds rather than relying on others’.
TheGamer highlights Rosewater’s acknowledgement that although the team’s stance has now changed, he sincerely believed in his previous statements.
Rosewater explained, “My goal with this blog is to provide you with the most accurate representation of current Magic design. Sometimes, Magic takes unexpected directions. If you had asked me ten years ago, I wouldn’t have predicted Universes Beyond.”
However, after experiencing it firsthand and assessing player feedback, Rosewater has become a convert, believing that the crossover expansions will bring joy to Magic players. He shared his excitement about a recent playtest for a Marvel set, indicating that it was one of the most enjoyable playtests he has had in years.
The crossover expansions are part of Magic: The Gathering’s Universes Beyond series and will begin with the Fallout expansion in early 2024. Doctor Who has already made an appearance in Magic: The Gathering.
