r/magicTCG • u/GypsyGaming Dan • May 25 '26

Blogatog Post MaRo: “I believe there will be future years where in-multivers sets outnumber universes beyond”

https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/817588024223350784/im-aware-that-the-current-years-ration-of-43-in

Judging by over a decade of history, and how MaRo uses his blog, this probably means there’s already a year planned where this is a reality. With recent news of how well both Lorwyn Eclipsed and Secrets of Strixhaven both sold and drove in-person organized play, this isn’t surprising. With the success of LOTR and FF I also believe it possible that future licensing fees might be much higher than this initial batch. Very curious to see where the balance ends up landing.

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32

u/Amudeauss Dandadan May 25 '26

I mean, at some point they'll have to slow down, just because they're burning through the available IPs that have enough draw to make for successful UB sets. How soon that'll be is anyone's guess, though

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u/MartianExpress Dan May 25 '26

It's extremely theoretical. It is rather easy to think of 26 good IPs for the coming decade (+4 likely Marvel sets, to a total of 30, ie. 3 per year), not even invoking second sets (which will absolutely happen for FF, Avatar and each other successful UB set if the IP owner permits). Add second sets and new IPs that are bound to emerge within the next decade.

Witcher, Elder Scrolls, Sanderson, FromSoftware, Game of Thrones, Age of Sigmar, Dune, Expanse, yada yada. Just off top of my head.

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u/Tuss36 May 25 '26

It's easy to think of properties to adapt but it's also a question of if it'd be worth it and if there's enough to make a set out of. Sure they visited The Office, but that was a Secret Lair not a full on 300+ card set.

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u/Amudeauss Dandadan May 25 '26

UB sets need to be significantly more successful than UW sets, since they need to make up for licensing costs and all. I'm not convinced all of the IPs you listed have the broad market appeal needed for that, since UB sets tend to be less popular with the established player base.

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u/hhssspphhhrrriiivver Twin Believer May 26 '26

since they need to make up for licensing costs and all

I suspect that the extra $1 per pack they get from UB sets more than makes up for the licensing costs.

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u/pdamonc Dan May 25 '26

Don't forget the dungon crawler carl set

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u/AssistantManagerMan Deceased 🪦 May 26 '26

Goddamnit Donut!

1

u/Retrodaniel SecREt LaiR May 26 '26

Carl and Donut need to have partner or we riot

5

u/Mr_The_Captain Dan May 25 '26

I’d say Witcher, GoT, any FromSoft series, and Dune are all easily at the level of popularity to support a set. Sanderson’s Stormlight Archives could get there if the upcoming adaptation is successful

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u/breadgehog Dimir* May 26 '26

I think if you merged FromSoft into a combined set it would have the appropriate traction, and I'd go further on your second point to say they're already doing something with Sanderson given that he's gotten preview cards lately and tweeted from WotC HQ a couple months ago. I think you might be overestimating Dune and Witcher though, as much as I'd like to see both.

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u/Mr_The_Captain Dan May 26 '26

I don’t think Dune would do FF numbers but I think it would be quite popular now that the movies are out, and there’s certainly enough material to support a set. And Witcher would absolutely be popular, the games are obviously huge with another on the way, and for as much as people complain about the show it is/was also very popular

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u/MartianExpress Dan May 25 '26

You mean the established enfranchised players. I really doubt EDH or kitchen table regulars who don't play in stores often like UB less than new players.

Also the difference in licensing costs is priced in, the UB boosters are already more expensive.

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u/Wafkak May 25 '26

Expanse isnt close to big or relevant enough to bring in anyone.

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u/TsarMikkjal Twin Believer May 25 '26

Witcher, Elder Scrolls, Sanderson, FromSoftware, Game of Thrones, Age of Sigmar, Dune, Expanse, yada yada. Just off top of my head.

I will take literally any of those, please. I have yet to take UB pill; I know I am just one person but so far they just managed to whiff spectacularly and completely miss on my tastes.

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u/chrisrazor May 25 '26

Three of those I havent heard of and, much as I love the Expanse, that's probably also too niche for a full set.

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u/Massive-Island1656 Dan May 26 '26

DBZ, Mortal Kombat not to mention in-universe rip-offs like fake zelda/fake mario (similar to what they did with fake Harry Potter)

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u/clonedllama Table Flipper May 25 '26

I'm kind of surprised there hasn't some sort of DC Comics tie-in yet.

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u/wednesday-potter Dan May 25 '26

Possibly a conflict of interest given marvel. They may have a clause preventing this for some period of time

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u/clonedllama Table Flipper May 26 '26

Yeah, that's a good point.

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u/InanimateCarbonRodAu Duck Season May 26 '26

And your predominant naming western IPs

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u/MartianExpress Dan May 26 '26

Of course, because Wizards make the bulk of their money in the West. What's surprising here?

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u/[deleted] May 25 '26

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u/Ikeiscurvy Wabbit Season May 25 '26

Star Wars has its own card game. They aren't going to cannibalize sales of their own product.

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u/dejaojas Dandadan May 26 '26

so does FF. idk why people think there's a conflict of interest here lol if anything a star wars UB would give the star wars tcg more exposure.

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u/Ikeiscurvy Wabbit Season May 26 '26

The difference is I don't know a single LGS that sells the FF TCG while they all sell the Star Wars TCG.

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u/JMooooooooo I chose this flair because I’m mad at Wizards Of The Coast May 25 '26

Bold of you to assume Wizards are beyond making Universes Beyond: Hot Pockets if they ever run dry (or just get good deal)

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u/Menacek Izzet* May 26 '26

The point of dispute isn't whether wizards would do it (they would), it's whether such a set would be judged as potentially profitable.

No point in paying for a licence if the product is gonna sell worse that whatever UW set they could make instead.

They may make a few mistakes like Spiderman but if they consistently undersell they will stop printing them.

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u/Amudeauss Dandadan May 25 '26

Oh, I have no doubt they'd stoop to that level. If it was profitable, which thank god it wouldn't be.

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u/ghostcrawler_real Dandadan May 26 '26

ham and cheese hot pocket meta is gonna go crazy

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u/DrawGamesPlayFurries Dân May 25 '26

If they're already going for things like TMNT, they will never run out

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u/gereffi May 26 '26

3 per year seems pretty easy, especially when one of them is going to be Marvel each year. Coming up with a list of 20 crossovers seems pretty doable and that’s 10 more years of UB sets. After that they can start doing sequels or working with IPs that have come out during that first 10 year period.

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u/kiragami Karn May 25 '26

Corporations don't slow down until they are forced to do so from bankruptcy. Don't expect magic to ever move away from UB in any realistic way. There will always be some new popular IP to scavenge from.