#Magic The Gathering Gross sales Decline Sharply, however can Crossover Occasions Put it aside? – Destructoid
Regardless of the superb gross sales of Dungeons & Dragons’ 2024 revision manuals, Wizard of the Coast hasn’t been doing nice these days. Based on ICV2, the corporate’s tabletop gross sales went down 3% in comparison with the earlier 12 months, with the final quarter falling 22% from the highs of the fourth quarter of 2023.
Magic: The Gathering, particularly, took a success, with This fall 2024 gross sales 19% decrease than This fall 2023.
What units the final three months of 2023 aside for Magic: The Gathering is likely to be the numerous Universes Past releases, the favored crossover units primarily based on mental properties unrelated to MTG. The final three months of 2023 noticed the discharge of the Lord of the Rings-based Tales of Center-Earth set re-release, the brand new Jurassic World Assortment set, 29 new Secret Lair playing cards, and the brand new Timeless format on the more and more common Magic: The Gathering Enviornment.
In comparison with that, the not-very-exciting Foundations set and hefty however lonely Marvel Secret Lair crossover of This fall 2024 are fairly underwhelming.
To be clear, Magic: The Gathering isn’t going wherever. It’s nonetheless considered one of, if not the most well-liked card recreation on the planet. Whereas their gross sales had been decrease final 12 months, the dip is barely sharp when evaluating a tremendous three months to a fairly underwhelming quarter. Wizards of the Coast has a variety of tips to play earlier than MTG ever comes near changing into irrelevant.
So, how is Wizards of the Coast planning to boost the gross sales of its hottest tabletop IP? Within the speedy time period, it’s all within the palms of Closing Fantasy. Based on Chris Cocks, CEO of Wizards’ proprietor Hasbro, the Closing Fantasy set “has the potential to be the most important ‘Magic’ launch but”.
Hasbro has some good motive to financial institution on Closing Fantasy to save lots of the day. The uncharacteristically costly preorders of decks, booster packs, and starter kits bought out instantly. Whereas preorders promoting out is predicted of these occasions, the favored Tales of Center-Earth set solely reached this milestone per week after being introduced. Closing Fantasy took about an hour.
