I REALLY appreciate your answers and community interactions, Mr. Rosewater. However, it seems that one of your recent answers has made people think that WotC does not want less-than-wealthy people to play the game. Do you have any thoughts on this controversy?
We want everyone who wants to play Magic to be able to play Magic. We support a large number of formats to allow people to customize what format fits them best (and that includes financially). I’m just trying to be honest that in addition to a game, Magic is a collectible. And the fact it’s a collectible is important because it finances the business model that lets us have the many resources (game design, creative, etc.) necessary to continue to make it the best game in the world.
Older formats with larger card pools come with a challenge that getting particular cards can be more difficult, because once again, there is a collectible aspect to the game. We do reprint many desired cards to help increase the number available, but it’s always going to be a factor in those formats. The strength of older formats is access to a lot more cards. As I often say, your greatest weakness is your greatest strength pushed too far. Having a lot of cards available also means the collectible aspect kicks in stronger.
The reason we have formats with smaller card pools, usually of more recent cards, is to provide players a way to play that lessens the collectible aspect, specifically to make it easier to collect the cards you need. We even provide numerous limited formats that require only purchasing the necessary product in the moment. You can even play Magic: The Gathering Arena without spending any money.
My point is, there are numerous budget conscious ways to play Magic. If you choose to opt into a format with a larger card pool, that comes with a collectible aspect that we can only offset so much. Yes, we can and will reprint desired cards (when able), but never to the extent that everything desirable will be easy to obtain.
I’m happy to hear what reprints you want to see more of (and yes, fetch lands - I got it) and I love hearing about past products that did a good a job fulfilling this role or future products that might fulfill it in the future. I do want to know when we make products that upset you why it upsets you, so I can apply lessons to future products. I want to have a two-way conversation with all of you. I’m just pointing out that ”abandon Magic being a collectible” is not going to be something I can realistically take to my bosses.
So please, let’s continue talking, but we have to do so with the realities of the business as an honest part of the conversation.
And thank you for responding. I do take the close interaction with all of you very seriously.
I am completely fine with WotC continuing to print collectible Secret Lairs, Mythic Edition, Masterpieces, etc. But those were always done in addition to regular and ancillary set releases. Why couldn’t Double Masters have been a normal release like Modern Horizons or Battlebond? With the option for collectors to purchase a Mythic Edition box with a set of the alt-full-art versions of the rares and mythics. That way the set is still attainable for wider audience but you still can profit as a company from the collectors who want these premium products.
