Magic: The Gathering - Tactics summoned to PC January 18

Sony has announced that Magic: The Gathering - Tactics will arrive on PC later this month on January 18 (the PS3 version is slated for later this year). The free-to-play game offers up a new take on the classic card game, allowing direct control over summoned creatures and simplified deck building options. Naturally, players will be able to purchase new cards for their decks or trade them with other players.

Check out our E3 preview for a detailed look at the game. And find new screens below and a developer diary after the break.

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics

Show full PR text

WALK THE PLANES OF
MAGIC: THE GATHERING - TACTICS™ ON JANUARY 18th

The Free to Download and Play Strategy Game

Invites Players to Join a New World of Magic™

WHAT:

Sony Online Entertainment LLC is scheduled to release Magic: The Gathering - Tactics™, a free-to-play game, on the PC this January 18th. Players worldwide will experience a new dimension of Magic: The Gathering® as Wizards of the Coast's legendary trading card game and its iconic creatures, characters and spells come to life for the first time in a fully realized 3D environment. Free to download and play, registered players will be able to compete online against opponents around the world or take on the challenging opening chapter of the game's story-driven campaign. In the game, players will be able to build more powerful spellbooks by purchasing booster packs and taking on additional campaign chapters through the game's integrated story.

ABOUT MAGIC: THE GATHERING - TACTICS:

A free-to-play online tactical strategy game, Magic: The Gathering - Tactics invites players to take on the role of a Planeswalker, a powerful mage commanding devastating spells and incredible creatures. Players will take their skills into intense online tactical battles as they fight in richly illustrated environments with all five colors of Magic. Magic: The Gathering - Tactics brings the challenge, collectability and community of Magic to the PC with the ease and access of a free-to-play downloadable client. Gamers can freely join the fun and open the door to a whole new dimension of Magic!

KEY FEATURES:

* Experience a New Dimension of a Classic Favorite: Characters, creatures, spells and settings from the rich world of Magic come alive in this free-to-play online game.

* Unleash the Power: As a commanding Planeswalker, players cast devastating spells such as Fireball, Doom Blade, Pacifism and Lightning Bolt, and control incredible creatures like Serra Angel, Lord of the Pit or Reya Dawnbringer.

* Connect and Combat: Join legions of gamers for intense battles of thrilling strategy in casual and tournament formats.

WHEN:

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics is scheduled to release for digital download on the PC platform January 18, 2011 and is expected to be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system later in 2011.

ESRB Rating: Teen with content descriptors Mild Blood and Mild Fantasy Violence. For more information on Magic: The Gathering - Tactics, visit www.magicthegatheringtactics.com and www.facebook.com/MagicTheGatheringTactics.

Reader Comments (17)

It's like Eye of Judgment! Except based on a game people actually play.

red black deck here I come

Ill buy it, I love magic

as long as there is a way to get new cards without buying them, I'd be interested.

Are my Sarah Angels or Hypnotic Specters or Shiva dragon still worth anything?

@Friv0lous

Nope, not anymore. There are better cards out now. Baneslayer Angel... for example

Heroes of Might and Magic meets real money transfers?

What's the difference supposed to be between this and battleforge?

@Validus Deus

I read that as Battlefrog.

Not interested.

They really had something special with Duels of the Planeswalkers. If they had 3D animations come out of the cards when you play them (like in EoJ), then that would be a warm welcome in my eyes. But something like this doesn't compare to the card game I love.

@Youthinized

yeah, i don't really want to play anything but the card game. but i'd like a system where where can gain points or credits by winning games or completely challenges and stuff, and then use those to buy new cards. that plus a fully customizable deck would be really cool.

I've always wanted a sequel to MTG Battlegrounds, but hardly anyone liked that game. Most people either didn't like it because it didn't resemble the CCG, or they didn't even try it because it was MTG and they had no interest.

@stafa I loved MTG:BG and still hope that there will a sequel one day. It would be great as an XBLA game. I think the video game actually removed some of the annoyances I have with the card game. You have access to all of your spells, right from the start, and can cast any spell you want, as many time as you want, as long as you had the mana to pay for it. Also, you never get mana screwed because you get one additional land in a timed manner which regenerates slowy after bieng used. It seemed like the same great Magic game, only without the luck of the draw aspect.

@BizarroPete I use to screw people's mana all the time. Run over to the enemy's side and steal their mana orb while they are distracted with my creatures. It was awesome.
I really doubt there will be a sequel though. I read many years ago, that the devs at Atari wanted to make a sequel, but the sales numbers of that game wouldn't warrant them the opportunity to develop it.

All I want is a game like the old MicroProse game with all the cards and such. I guess that is too much to ask. I just read on wikipedia that there is a mod or something that will let me do this.

Looks like getting new cards requires buying points... like BattleForge did... Fail...

Stick to the real game. You will save way more money.