State of Play - July 24, 2025
Sam Fedderly
The new set, Edge of Eternities, is making its debut this weekend, and players around the world are lining up to be the first to crack open packs of this space-themed release. With engaging mechanics and an art direction that’s truly out of this world (pun intended), this set has been at the top of my anticipation list for months.
I’m genuinely excited for Edge of Eternities; its flavor, originality, and clever mechanics all feel like a love letter to long-time Magic fans. The cards look like they’ll slot beautifully into a few of my Commander decks, and I’ve been studying them religiously to prepare for the chaos of pre-release. I woke up this morning eager to see what other creators had discovered: pre-release strategies, spicy Standard combos, hidden flavor gems in the art. But instead of space wizards and cosmic horrors, I was met with something else entirely.
Being Spoiled with Spoilers
Overnight, a wave of Spider-Man cards had been revealed, and suddenly the community’s attention had completely shifted. My entire social feed was taken over - not by hype for the in-universe set that hasn’t even reached its prerelease yet, but by the flash of a new Universes Beyond product. And I’m not so bitter as to say I wasn’t also intrigued by the Spider-Man cards, they do look fun. But… couldn’t it have waited? Couldn’t Edge of Eternities have its moment in the spotlight first? Doesn’t this early reveal actively hurt WotC’s pre-release efforts by taking attention away from the weekend’s events? (Not to mention the local game stores that rely on these big community gathering events.)
In the last 48 hours, we’ve seen major spoilers for both Spider-Man and Avatar: The Last Airbender, two sets I’m genuinely excited about, but the timing left a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve been craving in-universe sets like Edge of Eternities, especially since Wizards shuffled around their Universes Beyond and in-universe release schedule. And now, those in-universe sets are being completely overshadowed.
King-Pin Priorities
I don’t think I’m alone in feeling a little betrayed. This isn't just about some early card previews. It’s what this timing says about WotC’s priorities. It’s a signal that original Magic worlds are taking a backseat to cash-grabbing crossovers.
I don’t want to be overly pessimistic, but it’s hard not to notice the shift. Wizards of the Coast, once a nerd haven built on deep fantasy worlds and mechanical innovation, is clearly chasing bigger dollars. Sure, the revenue from Universes Beyond is probably staggering. But what’s the cost? How long before Magic stops feeling like Magic?
Conclusion
At this pace, I fear the in-universe sets will begin to feel out of place, strange moments of fantasy flavor that don’t quite fit unless they’re anchored to a current pop culture reference. Players like me may start to suffer from spoiler fatigue. Not because we don’t love the game, but because the hype cycle has changed. We’re no longer following the story of Jace or the flavor of Zendikar, we’re scanning spoilers for the next multiverse meme tied to a billion-dollar brand.
Let me be clear: I still love Magic. This won’t stop me from showing up to prerelease with sleeves and dice in hand. But I do think WotC is walking a dangerous line. Right now, Magic is burning incredibly bright. But the same fire that draws in new players may end up burning those who’ve been sitting close, enjoying the warmth, for years.
