As one of the most iconic franchises in the trading card game (TCG) industry, Magic: The Gathering (MTG) continues to demonstrate its enduring popularity and market dominance, a remarkable feat for a game that has been around for decades. Its latest crossover project, this time with the legendary JRPG franchise Final Fantasy, has proven to be not only a fan favourite but also a massive financial success for its parent company, Hasbro.
For those unfamiliar with the collaboration, the crossover introduces Final Fantasy-themed card sets into the Magic: The Gathering universe. Many of the card designs have been specially crafted by some of the most notable creative talents at Square Enix, including renowned artist Tetsuya Nomura, adding even more prestige and excitement around the release.
That excitement quickly translated into staggering sales. According to Hasbro’s latest financial report, as shared by Bloomberg, the MTG x Final Fantasy set generated an astonishing US$200 million in revenue within just 24 hours of its launch. To put that into perspective, Hasbro’s previous high-profile collaboration with The Lord of the Rings took approximately six months to reach the same revenue milestone.
The Popularity of Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy
In a further testament to the product’s explosive success, Hasbro revealed that it had already increased production capacity for the Final Fantasy cards by four times the usual rate. Even then, the demand has significantly outstripped supply. The company admitted that the popularity of the crossover has far exceeded their expectations.
Fortunately for collectors and players alike, Hasbro has confirmed that it intends to continue producing and selling the MTG x Final Fantasy set for the foreseeable future, anticipating sustained interest over time.
As expected, the scarcity and high demand have led to the cards becoming a hot commodity in secondary markets, with prices spiking due to scalpers and resellers. However, with Hasbro’s commitment to ongoing distribution, prices are expected to stabilise as more stock becomes available gradually.
This record-breaking launch not only underscores the power of cross-franchise collaboration but also reaffirms Magic: The Gathering‘s relevance and ability to evolve in an ever-changing entertainment landscape.
