Magic: The Gathering (MTG) players are facing a major change as the game plans to merge its two booster packs into a single Play Booster. The decision was made to rescue the struggling limited formats of the game. The popularity of Set Boosters had pushed Draft Boosters out of the market, leading to concerns about the increasing prices of limited formats. The move to a single Play Booster aims to save drafting and other limited formats. However, the announcement has surprised and concerned the MTG community, as draft players make up a minority of the game’s purchasers. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the issues faced by limited formats and draft boosters. The shift to online drafting via MTG Arena has been successful, while traditional events at physical stores have struggled. Head designer Mark Rosewater clarified his earlier statement, stating that no one at Wizards/Hasbro was trying to get rid of limited play. The differing booster packs are relatively new, and Wizards of the Coast has focused on other aspects of the game, leaving limited formats to suffer. The introduction of Play Boosters is an attempt to prevent draft from becoming an online-only format and to maintain the interactive nature of the game. However, players are concerned about the potential increased cost and uncertainty that this change brings.
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Magic: The Gathering’s head designer says new Play Boosters will “save” TCG’s Draft and Limited formats
