Wizards of the Coast has shared plans for upcoming releases in the Universes Beyond and Secret Lairs series for Magic:  The Gathering in 2022 and 2023, with Fortnite and Street Fighter joining the previously announced Warhammer 40,000 and Tales of Middle-earth sets.

Universes Beyond combines Magic:  The Gathering mechanics with settings different from the established Magic multiverse (see “Wizards of the Coast’s ‘Universes Beyond’ Announcement Reveals their Licensing Plans for ‘Magic:  The Gathering’”). 

In 2022, four Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks will be released, followed in 2023 by a full Magic set format for The Lord of the Rings:  Tales of Middle-earth.  Tales of Middle-earth will be available for tabletop, Magic Online, and MTG Arena play.  In addition, four Commander decks and future Secret Lair drops will feature J.R.R. Tolkein’s iconic setting.

Two additional licenses have been announced for the series, both based on video game franchises:  Fortnite will appear in two Secret Lair drops, while a Street Fighter Secret Lair drop will help celebrate the 35th Anniversary of that franchise.

Click Gallery below to see artwork from the four sets.

As with other Universes Beyond cards, these new sets will not be legal for play in Standard format games.  But the company has clarified that with a full product line up planned for The Lord of the Rings:  Tales of Middle-earth, it will be legal for Modern and Historic format play like other Universes Beyond cards (see “Wizards Rethinks their Approach to ‘Magic:  The Gathering’ ‘Universes Beyond’ Releases”).

Wizards of the Coast also announced plans for new Standard sets for 2022 (see “Wizards of the Coast Announces 2022 ‘Magic:  The Gathering’ Standard Sets”).  The company has also updated its EventLink and MTG Companion tools (see “Wizards of the Coast Updates EventLink and MTG Companion App”).

In November, BOOM!  Studios will offer a new one-shot Magic-based comic book (see “Planewalker Tezzeret Runs Free in New ‘Magic:  The Gathering’ One-Shot”).