Earlier today, Wizards of the Coast and Cryptic Studios confirmed that an MMO based on Magic: The Gathering is currently in development.
Details on the project are scarce, but Cryptic Studios’ official website confirms that the game will be a free-to-play action MMORPG in which players take on the role of a Planeswalker — a world-hopping magic user featured prominently in the collectible card game and its associated lore.
Comments by Stephen D’Angelo, CEO of Cryptic Studios, in a recently published interview with GameIndustry also imply that the game will not utilize card-based gameplay like its source material. D’Angelo states:
“My intent is to go forward with a Magic game that is not about the card game. It’s about jumping into the world and the fiction of Magic: The Gathering.”
Though there is no word yet on a release window for the Magic: The Gathering MMO, players can rest assured that development of the game is in experienced hands. Cryptic Studios is the same developer behind another MMO based on a Wizards of the Coast IP, Neverwinter, as well as Star Trek Online and Champions Online. And with over 20 years of MtG cards and lore to draw from, there should be no shortage of source material for Cryptic to build a virtual world around.
Be sure to check back with GameSkinny for updates as more information is released.
