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Magic: The Gathering Arena will come to Steam this monthI bet it’s good on Steam Deck

I bet it’s good on Steam Deck

Magic: The Gathering Arenawas released in 2019 as a (better) digital adaptation of the decades-old physical trading card game. Ourreview deemed it a successfor its ability to make untapping and cycling graspable for newcomers and for its adoption of HearthStone-style attack animations.Previously it’s only been available as a download from its own website, but now Wizards say it’ll come to Steam on May 23rd.What Is Magic: The Gathering Arena?Watch on YouTubeFrom itsSteam page, it doesn’t sound as if it’s getting any particular features for its Steam release. It remains a trading card game that includes a tutorial, 15 unlockable decks, different game modes including Draft and Brawl, and cosmetics, card sleeves and pets to be attained via daily rewards.It also, naturally, includes an in-game store for spending real money on all of the above and more. Arena often receives new MtG card sets before they’re released in physical form, and new sets are often announced months in advance. The deckbuilderreturned to Innistradearlier this year and will get crossovers withAssassin’s Creed and Final Fantasy in 2024.While an already released free-to-play game coming to Steam might not be the most exciting news, there is one obvious advantage: it should mean that Arena is playable on Steam Deck. It’s too early to know whether it’ll be given Verified status, but Arena is already available as a touchscreen iOS and Android screen, which is a good sign that its UI and controls are adaptable to Steam Deck’s handheld format.I’ve not played Arena, or any Magic: The Gathering, but maybe I’ll give it a go. It’s on our list of thebest digital board games on PCand our sister site Dicebreakermake the latest sets sound interesting.

Magic: The Gathering Arenawas released in 2019 as a (better) digital adaptation of the decades-old physical trading card game. Ourreview deemed it a successfor its ability to make untapping and cycling graspable for newcomers and for its adoption of HearthStone-style attack animations.Previously it’s only been available as a download from its own website, but now Wizards say it’ll come to Steam on May 23rd.What Is Magic: The Gathering Arena?Watch on YouTubeFrom itsSteam page, it doesn’t sound as if it’s getting any particular features for its Steam release. It remains a trading card game that includes a tutorial, 15 unlockable decks, different game modes including Draft and Brawl, and cosmetics, card sleeves and pets to be attained via daily rewards.It also, naturally, includes an in-game store for spending real money on all of the above and more. Arena often receives new MtG card sets before they’re released in physical form, and new sets are often announced months in advance. The deckbuilderreturned to Innistradearlier this year and will get crossovers withAssassin’s Creed and Final Fantasy in 2024.While an already released free-to-play game coming to Steam might not be the most exciting news, there is one obvious advantage: it should mean that Arena is playable on Steam Deck. It’s too early to know whether it’ll be given Verified status, but Arena is already available as a touchscreen iOS and Android screen, which is a good sign that its UI and controls are adaptable to Steam Deck’s handheld format.I’ve not played Arena, or any Magic: The Gathering, but maybe I’ll give it a go. It’s on our list of thebest digital board games on PCand our sister site Dicebreakermake the latest sets sound interesting.

Magic: The Gathering Arenawas released in 2019 as a (better) digital adaptation of the decades-old physical trading card game. Ourreview deemed it a successfor its ability to make untapping and cycling graspable for newcomers and for its adoption of HearthStone-style attack animations.

Previously it’s only been available as a download from its own website, but now Wizards say it’ll come to Steam on May 23rd.

What Is Magic: The Gathering Arena?Watch on YouTube

What Is Magic: The Gathering Arena?

Cover image for YouTube video

From itsSteam page, it doesn’t sound as if it’s getting any particular features for its Steam release. It remains a trading card game that includes a tutorial, 15 unlockable decks, different game modes including Draft and Brawl, and cosmetics, card sleeves and pets to be attained via daily rewards.

It also, naturally, includes an in-game store for spending real money on all of the above and more. Arena often receives new MtG card sets before they’re released in physical form, and new sets are often announced months in advance. The deckbuilderreturned to Innistradearlier this year and will get crossovers withAssassin’s Creed and Final Fantasy in 2024.

While an already released free-to-play game coming to Steam might not be the most exciting news, there is one obvious advantage: it should mean that Arena is playable on Steam Deck. It’s too early to know whether it’ll be given Verified status, but Arena is already available as a touchscreen iOS and Android screen, which is a good sign that its UI and controls are adaptable to Steam Deck’s handheld format.

I’ve not played Arena, or any Magic: The Gathering, but maybe I’ll give it a go. It’s on our list of thebest digital board games on PCand our sister site Dicebreakermake the latest sets sound interesting.