Magic Arena announces changes to pre-order packages starting with Lorwyn Eclipsed

Wizards of the Coast has announced a revamp of the pre-order packages for Magic: The Gathering Arena. The changes will take effect starting with Lorwyn Eclipsed and will alter both the structure and placement of the bundles offered before the release of each set. According to the text on the game's official page, the decision is part of an effort to better align the value of the packages with the player experience once a new set is released on Arena.

The main change is the reduction in the number of available options. From now on, Arena will only have two pre-order packages per set: the Pack Bundle, aimed at players interested in expanding their card collection, and the Play Bundle, focused on those who prioritize Limited format matches. The Pass Bundle, which included the Mastery Pass, will no longer be available.

The Pack Bundle maintains its price of $50 but undergoes adjustments to its content. The package now includes 45 store boosters and five mythic boosters from the new set, replacing the previous model of 50 store boosters. The bundle continues to offer five Golden Packs, plus a promotional card with alternate art and a themed sleeve from the set.

The Play Bundle undergoes more significant changes. The price of the package doubles, going from $25 to $50, but the bundle now offers four Draft tokens and two Sealed tokens, plus 20 Play-In Points, enough to guarantee direct entry into a Qualifier Play-In.

In the statement, Wizards explains that the goal of the redesign is to ensure that players have immediate access to playable content as soon as the set is released. The company states that the old Pass Bundle did not fulfill this role satisfactorily, as it offered progression in the Mastery Pass without providing tools from the new set to advance in it, which, according to the company, ended up generating a frustrating experience.

The developer acknowledges that the new model may still undergo adjustments in the future and claims the revamped bundles are not necessarily the final version, and the team will continue to monitor player reception to assess whether the changes deliver the expected experience within Magic Arena.

On social media, users expressed frustration with the end of the Pass Bundle, stating that it was the most affordable product on the digital platform and that the price increase for the Play Bundle makes it more difficult to purchase as a service products on the platform.

Source: DailyMTG