Magic: The Gathering’s Universes Beyond Era—And Why It Hurts

During Magic on Vegas, Wizards of the Coast dropped some major announcements that shook the Magic: The Gathering community. No, I’m not just talking about the upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants Secret Lair cards (which are, yes, very real). I’m talking about the seismic shift in Magic’s future, a decision that will redefine what this game looks and feels like. Starting in 2025, half of all premier Magic sets will be Universes Beyond sets, fully integrated into Standard, Pioneer, and all formats.

Let me repeat that: half of all Magic sets. Not Secret Lairs. Not Commander decks. Full, 250+ card Standard-legal booster sets. And the first of these? Spider-Man. That’s right—next year, instead of returning to Lorwyn as planned, we’ll get hundreds of Spider-Man cards. And Final Fantasy cards. And who knows what else. This isn’t just an occasional foray into new territory—it’s the new normal. And I’m not happy about it.

The Slope Was Always This Slippery

When Universes Beyond started, we were told it was optional. Not legal in Standard or Pioneer. Just a fun, supplemental side project. No need to worry about The Walking Dead cards ruining your draft pod. Then came the Transformers cards. And Warhammer. And Fallout. And now here we are, with half of all Magic sets becoming Universes Beyond. It’s not just a slippery slope—it’s a cliff, and we’ve gone right over it.

I want to be clear: my frustration isn’t about Universes Beyond cards existing. If you love SpongeBob SquarePants or Spider-Man or Final Fantasy Magic cards, that’s awesome. Seriously, I mean that. If these cards bring you joy, if they’re what got you into this game, then I’m happy for you. What bothers me is the quantity. Half of all premier sets—half—being devoted to Universes Beyond feels like Magic: The Gathering isn’t Magic: The Gathering anymore. It’s a platform for pop culture crossovers, with a little Magic sprinkled in.

What Are We Losing?

Magic’s identity has always been tied to its rich worlds, unique lore, and a sense of fantasy you couldn’t find anywhere else. Now, it feels like that’s slipping away. Instead of returning to Lorwyn or exploring new planes, we’re getting Spider-Man cards. Instead of deep, immersive settings, we’re getting Planeswalkers in NASCAR gear. Yes, you read that right—our next “in-universe” Magic set features race cars and checkered flags.

It’s not just about Universes Beyond—even Magic’s original sets feel more like gimmicks lately. Cowboys. Detectives. Planeswalkers in space. Where are the worlds like Tarkir, Zendikar, or Innistrad? Where’s the Magic that doesn’t feel like a parody of itself?

The Frog Boils Slowly

If this shift feels sudden to you, it’s worth noting that it didn’t come out of nowhere. Over the years, the messaging from Wizards has slowly changed. First, it was just five Walking Dead cards. No big deal, right? Then Universes Beyond grew. Don’t worry, they said, these cards aren’t in premier sets. Then they were, but only as bonus cards, like the Jurassic World promos in Ixalan. And now? Now, it’s half of Magic.

It reminds me of the old adage about boiling a frog: if you turn the heat up slowly enough, the frog doesn’t realize it’s being cooked. Well, here we are, halfway to a game where competitive matches might feature Spider-Man fighting Cloud Strife. And while I’m sure the sales data backs this direction (because, let’s face it, this stuff sells), it’s hard not to feel like something’s been lost along the way.

There’s Still Hope

Not everything about Magic’s future feels bleak. Next year’s Magic Foundations set is shaping up to be one of the most exciting things Wizards has ever done. It’s a celebration of everything that made Magic great—a love letter to its worlds, characters, and mechanics. It’s proof that Wizards still knows how to create sets that feel like Magic, even in a Universes Beyond-dominated world.

And yes, we’re still getting some of the classic Magic sets we’ve been waiting for. Tarkir is finally coming back, and while Lorwyn got delayed, it hasn’t been canceled. These sets remind me that Magic’s identity isn’t completely gone—it’s just… harder to find.

Why This Hurts

I’ve been playing Magic for years. I love this game. I love its characters, its lore, its worlds. And it breaks my heart to see half of that replaced with pop culture IPs. It’s not that I hate Universes Beyond—I don’t. But Magic was always something special, something unique. It wasn’t just a collection of references and crossovers. It was Magic.

Now, when I think about the future, I wonder if we’ll keep sliding further. If half of all sets are Universes Beyond now, what’s to stop it from becoming 60%, or 70%, or 80%? And if that happens, will Magic still feel like Magic at all?

The Bottom Line

Magic: The Gathering isn’t dying. I’m not quitting. And if you love Spider-Man cards, I’ll still sit down and play a game with you. But I won’t pretend I’m happy about these changes. I’m sad, and I think it’s okay to feel that way. This game means a lot to me—and to so many others. Seeing it change in ways that feel so far from its roots is hard.

At the same time, Magic belongs to all of us. It’s not just Wizards’ game. It’s ours. And as long as there are players who love Magic—whether they came here for Spider-Man, SpongeBob, or planes like Tarkir and Lorwyn—it will keep going. I’ll keep playing, keep building decks, and keep finding joy in this game, no matter what direction it takes. Because Magic isn’t just cards or sets or formats. It’s the people we play with, the stories we share, and the love we have for this incredible game.