Hasbro testing online Commander game, will this affect MTG Arena?
By Brian Allen
Commander has become Magic The Gathering's most popular format, and Hasbro is understandably monetizing it in every way possible. Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks recently confirmed the company is testing an online Commander client.
This would be something separate from Magic Online and Magic: Arena, the existing digital products supported by Hasbro. In a recent investor call, the CEO said the company has a multi-year plan to invest in collectability and social play.
“We continue to invest in Arena, we continue to mimic all the card sets that are inside of it, and we are also investing over the long-term to refresh the platform, so you will be hearing more about that over the coming next couple of years,” Cocks said. ” It will be a long-term digital project. When you look at Magic and where our growth has been, a lot of that growth has been in social-based play like Commander and in collectability. So, certainly we will be investing in those areas on the digital platform over the long-term.”
Translation: they've seen the wild success of Marvel Snap and Pokemon TCG Pocket, and want to figure out to replicate it. On paper, I'm sure it seems simple. Take your most popular format and put in the hands of as many people as possible. But that ignores Commander's most important aspect.
Commander is Magic's most social format, and that's the recipe for its success. I don't even know if an online product can duplicate it. I would honestly bet against it, unless it has far more social interaction than what Magic's current digital offerings provide.
In addition to the Commander news, Cocks mentioned that Hasbro has invested more than $1 billion in video game development. Projects in the works include new Dungeons and Dragons and G.I. Joe offerings.
With the licenses at Hasbro's disposal, executives are surely wondering why these games aren't printing money. The sad answer is most haven't been very good. For every Baldur's Gate 3 there have been three or four Magic: Legends. Until the quality improves, the quantity won't matter much.