Digital play
Digital play may refer to any way to play Magic digitally:
History
Magic Online was introduced in June 2002.
From its origin, Magic: The Gathering was a physical card game. To bring the game to a digital platform, it needed to function in much of the same way as it did physically. This meant randomized boosters and building a collection of cards. There was a lot of pressure to move away from this system, but Wizards of the Coast chose not to.[1]
In the end, digital gaming changed more to match Magic Online than Magic Online changed to match digital play. MTG Arena would eventually come along in 2019 to give a bit more of a video game sensibility to Magic gameplay.
Influence
Digital Magic affects how R&D designs cards, similar to how they design cards for certain formats. Does a design add extra, unnecessary clicks? Are there restrictions that might cause significant programming time with little practical implications for tabletop play? Is there a way to make the card a little simpler for digital Magic without sacrificing what allows it to play well in tabletop? These are all now questions that are considered when designing cards.[1]
Platforms
Clients with ongoing support
Other
- Magic: The Gathering (MicroProse), also called Shandalar
- Magic: The Gathering (Dreamcast)
- Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009)
- Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
- Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013
- Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014
- Duels of the Planeswalkers 2015
- Magic Duels
References
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (November 3, 2025). "30 Years, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.