Here at Goonhammer, we know that it’s hard to keep track of all the news happening all the time in the games industry. So much is always going on with games of all sorts, and their related media, it can be a real blink-and-you’ll miss it situation.
That’s why every week, we round up five of the biggest stories in the gaming sphere from the past week in the Games Industry News Roundup.
Magic: the Gathering Expands Scope of Universes Beyond crossovers at MagicCon Las Vegas
Magic: the Gathering’s final MagicCon of 2024 passed through Vegas last weekend, with Wizards of the Coast announcing some rather massive changes to the game’s release structure and the flagship Standard format going forwards into 2025. Not only will half of next year’s six “tentpole” sets for next year be Universes Beyond crossover sets with Final Fantasy, Spider-Man and an unannounced third collaboration, but from Final Fantasy onwards Universes Beyond sets will now be legally playable in the Standard format.
Reactions to this news have been mixed in the Magic community; Universes Beyond has been a controversial topic since the initial Stranger Things and Walking Dead limited run sets back four years ago and while WotC’s refinements to the program have warmed the wider community to the concept a little more as have some synergistic and well chosen IPs, the prospect of Magic’s own setting and flavour being pushed to the side in favour of increasingly larger and more unavoidable IP crossovers has left segments of the community uncomfortable with the direction of the game. Likewise has the addition of an extra set into the year’s lineup, pushing beyond the already stuffed roster of 2024’s five sets to a staggering six before any reprint/remaster or other non-standard sets.
In addition to the Universes Beyond announcement, Wizards also showed off concept art and a few card previews for the upcoming Magic universe sets Tarkir: Dragonstorm, Aetherdrift and Edge of Eternities, with the eagerly anticipated “Return to Lorwyn” set being pushed to 2026. They also promised the return of MSRP for Play Boosters and Commander Precon Decks starting from the release of Magic: Foundations, a welcome return after era of ridiculous price gouging on even mildly hyped sealed product.
There’s also an incoming Spongebob Squarepants Secret Lair because sure, why not.
Trench Crusade Marches Back to Kickstarter
The forsaken world of Trench Crusade returns to Kickstarter today, with offerings of officially branded miniatures, terrain and a full rulebook both physically and for home printing.
The theological horror skirmish game has proven a smash hit amongst the indie wargames scene, and looks set to only grow more popular with the promises of expanded rules for both tournament and campaign play, and a huge range of 60+ miniatures spread across the game’s 6 factions.
You can sign up to the Kickstarter here.
Hasbro Lays Off D&D Community Relationship Staff Members Amidst Wizards of the Coast Redundancies
Dungeons & Dragons’s Community relationships team found itself at the wrong side of “Corporate Restructuring” last week, with Creator Relations Associate Dixon Dubow taking to social media to announce he and other members of the team have lost their jobs as part of a near 100 positions downsizing at Wizards of the Coast.
Dubow has been a key figure in helping mend relationships between WotC and the gaming community following the Open Gaming License debacle of 2023, where Wizards announced a deeply unpopular change to the OGL agreement that would have severely reduced the kinds of content non-WotC/Hasbro affiliated entities and individuals would be able to create for and related to D&D, including floating the possibility of charging fees to create said content. The company walked this move back after huge public backlash, eventually making efforts to mend relations with the D&D community with Dixon Dubow being cited as a “stand out” in pushing initiatives for positive changes between WotC and its audience.
Dubow’s post has led to an outpouring of support and sympathy from the community, as well as fears that Hasbro/WotC may be gearing up to attempt another pass at restricting the Open Gaming License now the initial backlash has quietened down.
Monster Hunter: Wilds Announces Crossplay Enabled Beta Test Dates
The newest entry in the monstrously popular Monster Hunter series has announced the dates for Beta testing ahead of the game’s February 2025 release, with Crossplay being enabled for players between consoles and PC.
Playstation+ subscribers will be able to play early from the 28th through to the 31st of October, with Xbox and PC players joining them for the second round on the 31st through to the 4th of November. Participating players will earn an exclusive in-game cosmetic and will be able to transfer their Beta Test character over to the full game upon release.
The Beta test promises full use of the character creation suite, followed by a slice of the game’s tutorial and early story campaign, as well as a multiplayer Hunt for a hulking alpha Doshaguma.
And that wraps it up for our Games Industry News Roundup this week! Join us again next week for more news about the tabletop games industry and related media.
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