When Wizards of the Coast launched the idea of Universes Past to Magic: The Gathering in 2021, there was a good quantity of skepticism and fear. Universes Past is the moniker used to label playing cards and units printed for Magic: The Gathering that exist exterior the canonical story of the planes and characters of Magic. Although Universes Past could possibly be seen as a form of creativity-fostering catch-all, as a rule it merely permits Magic: The Gathering to discover completely different IPs that exist exterior of its universe, whereas adapting these characters and ideas into mechanics and gameplay that match proper into the 30-year-old buying and selling card recreation. Primarily, it’s Magic’s option to cross over with beloved franchises, whereas additionally permitting these IPs so as to add buying and selling card recreation diversifications to their portfolios with out making a separate, devoted recreation.
When this experiment into licensed IP was introduced, Magic’s head designer Mark Rosewater mentioned that Universes Past would solely exist in “everlasting” codecs and keep out of Magic’s extra aggressive Customary format. This resolution would permit gamers to decide on to have interaction with exterior IP like The Strolling Useless, Avenue Fighter, Fallout, or Murderer’s Creed in informal or less-sanctioned codecs of play, or ignore it completely in the event that they so wished.
Quick ahead to 2025, nonetheless, and Universes Past has developed into a unique beast. Not solely does it make up half of Magic: The Gathering’s tentpole set releases for the 12 months, however with the discharge of the Closing Fantasy set in June, Universes Past is now authorized in all aggressive codecs of the sport, with Customary the final to incorporate it. Herein lies the issue.
In Magic’s Customary format, it is advantageous to study the cardpool of authorized playing cards to stay aggressive. The format even employs a rotating system for launched units, which means that newly launched playing cards are solely playable in Customary for a set variety of years. Whereas this method might be irritating when one in all your favourite playing cards will get the boot, it ensures the cardboard pool is each simple to study and simple to handle. Furthermore, these limitations function pointers for gamers, encouraging them to adapt and create aggressive decks. Till now, these playing cards at all times stayed inside the MTG universe, and for a lot of gamers, Customary was the “purest” option to play their favourite recreation.
Now comes Magic’s newest set primarily based on the wildly well-liked online game collection Closing Fantasy and for the primary time ever characters and worlds from exterior Magic are introduced into its aggressive Customary scene. This final season on Magic’s digital consumer, Magic: The Gathering Enviornment, I hung out climbing by the ranks of Customary utilizing a deck impressed by and that includes Sephiroth from Closing Fantasy VII. The deck was highly effective, and felt on theme for the character it was centered on. Nonetheless, many occasions throughout my journey by the ranks, I couldn’t assist however surprise: if I wasn’t a giant Closing Fantasy VII fan, would I’ve even bothered with this deck? Positive, it was highly effective and remained true to the character, however how would a non-fan really feel? I questioned if there was an opponent I got here throughout that had zero expertise with Closing Fantasy, maybe struggling to have interaction with the set as a consequence of lack of curiosity, now being uncovered to it in a aggressive sense. That’s when it hit me: Quickly, I will probably be that very participant.
Keep in mind, 50 p.c of MTG units launched in 2025 are Universes Past. With solely three extra units to go, two of them are Universes Past: Spider-Man and Avatar: The Final Airbender. These units, like Closing Fantasy, will go proper into the aggressive Customary card pool. There’s nothing inherently improper with this per se, however why ought to I be compelled to have interaction with playing cards primarily based on IPs I’ve no real interest in, so as to stay within the aggressive scene? I’ve zero curiosity in utilizing playing cards primarily based on a Marvel comedian and a Nickelodeon cartoon in my Sephiroth deck for the sake of the sport’s aggressive “meta,” however now I’m compelled to, on the very least, study what these playing cards do. That is the place I begin to empathize with gamers who don’t have any connection to Closing Fantasy however are compelled to concentrate to the set or be left behind.
When Magic focuses by itself unique worlds, it’s simpler to simply accept a change in tone and artwork fashion. The Outlaws of Thunder Junction set was Wild West themed, nevertheless it nonetheless featured characters and ideas that already existed in Magic. When an IP like Closing Fantasy or Spider-Man is introduced in, nonetheless, a stage of outdoor affect and expectations include it, and Magic loses a little bit of its id within the course of.
When Universes Past was launched, it was designed as an optionally available “enjoyable” diversion for everlasting codecs and new gamers. Now, it is shortly taking up the sport, morphing it into an amalgamation of licensed characters and affecting aggressive play. I like taking part in Magic, and I like taking part in it competitively. I’m completely satisfied that extra persons are taking part in this glorious recreation due to Universes Past, however it could actually’t be the only real focus. When most newer gamers won’t ever queue up for a ranked match or search for a meta deck record, there isn’t a necessity for Universes Past to have a presence within the aggressive scene.
Typically it is okay to let Magic be Magic.
