Wizards of the Coast is expanding its Universes Beyond initiative to include Dungeons & Dragons with an upcoming World of Warcraft set. This move strongly suggests that Magic: The Gathering itself will also receive a World of Warcraft-themed set in the near future.
The company announced its strategy at Gen Con, revealing that Dungeons & Dragons will journey to Azeroth, the world of World of Warcraft. While this is significant for tabletop role-playing game players, it also points towards a parallel release for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game.
Wizards has three Magic Multiverse sets planned, with one likely tied to a Marvel partnership for 2025 and 2026 releases. This leaves two additional slots, one of which is slated for April 9. The World of Warcraft set for Dungeons & Dragons is expected in Q4.
Some Magic players have expressed opposition to Universes Beyond sets, particularly those that deviate from the game's established fantasy aesthetic, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or the forthcoming Star Trek set. However, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks indicated that future partners for 2027 would lean more towards fantasy-adjacent properties, a category into which World of Warcraft comfortably fits.
World of Warcraft shares numerous design elements with Magic: The Gathering, including common creature types like elves and dragons, a vast array of spells and equipment, and distinct zones that could function as lands. The potential for integrating Magic's five colors across Azeroth's diverse locales, from the Horde's red banners to Stormwind's white marble, is considerable. This synergy could also lead to cost savings for Wizards of the Coast by allowing the reuse of art assets across both games. The companies have a history of collaboration, including the Magic set "Adventures in the Forgotten Realms" and D&D sourcebooks like "Mythic Odysseys of Theros."
D&D creative leader Laura Hohman stated that the company is focused on the World of Warcraft release in Q4 and will continue to strategize the best timing for future collaborations. The World of Warcraft Trading Card Game ceased production in 2013, being largely replaced by the digital Hearthstone. Wizards primarily deals in physical card sales, and any potential player migration to Magic: The Gathering Arena is unlikely to be a major concern for Blizzard.
The prospect of a Star Wars collaboration for Magic: The Gathering, potentially in 2027, faces a different competitive landscape. Fantasy Flight Games launched Star Wars: Unlimited two years ago and has plans extending through 2028, with a growing competitive scene. While rumors of a Star Wars Magic set circulated due to a factory mix-up involving X-wing designs on Strixhaven cards, it's possible Wizards secured only the TTRPG license. However, if a Magic set could be positioned as non-competitive with Fantasy Flight's game, it could also be considered fantasy-adjacent and utilize existing spacecraft rules from other Magic sets. Therefore, Marvel, World of Warcraft, and potentially Star Wars are strong candidates for upcoming Universes Beyond releases.