The creators of the classic Magic: The Gathering (MTG) has announced that a new digital card game will be releasing in the near future. During a livestream event, Wizards of the Coast announced Magic: The Gathering Arena, a free-to-play that takes the rules and cards from the physical one into the online world, just as the you would play it in the real world on tabletop. This gives players a chance to compete with other players of varying degrees of skill from all over the world, since the online avenue reaches a wider demographic.

While there’s nothing wrong with visiting your neighborhood comic book or game store, those of whom are looking for a more challenging experience can seek out those looking for the same. While, yes, there are others out there such as Hearthstone, Gwent, The Elder Scrolls: Legends, nothing can beat the original. Check out the world premiere stream below and get hit with pride and nostalgia of MTG’s rising history over the years:

This is real Magic for the modern era. Play, collect, and build online just like you would at your kitchen table or local game store. Accurate to the Magic rule set, every card in standard format, card sets release alongside tabletop magic, [and] around 1,000 new cards added each year.”

Not only is Magic: The Gathering one of the oldest games to see into the modern age of technology, Wizards of the Coast is dedicated to making this for the community. Chris Cocks, president of said company, encourages fans of the physical card game to sign up for the closed beta. “We assembled some of the best game designers in the industry who are working to build a digital platform as flexible and expansive as Magic itself,” said Cocks. “But to make sure we really get it right, we need input from the Magic community, so fans should sign up for the Closed Beta and share your feedback with us.”

Elaine Chase, VP of MTG’s global brand strategy and marketing, is positive about this new direction for the decades-old game:

The future of Magic is about making sure we stay true to our awesome community of strategy game players. It’s making sure that they can carry that amazing Magic experience wherever they go, not only in their Friday Night Magic life, but their everyday life. As the very first game under the Magic Digital Next initiative to improve and expand digital Magic, MTG Arena is an important step toward that future.”

If you’re interested in checking out the closed beta, make sure to do so here. Invites will be sent out in waves, and priority access is granted to those who have participated in the Ixalan pre-release and have a DCI, or Magic Duels CSID, number linked to a Wizards account. For more in-depth commentary and information, check out the breakdown of the Arena from Wizards of the Coast VP of Digital Game Development, Jeffrey Steefel.

So, friends, what are your thoughts on Magic: The Gathering‘s latest step? Do you believe MTG Arena is the right thing for Wizards of the Coast to do? There’s always two sides to the story, after all. Feel free to let us know in the comments section below or start a conversation on Don’t Feed the Gamers official Facebook page. To stay up to date on gaming news as they happen, follow us on Twitter! Here are some of our latest:

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