Bloody Hell! Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy Collab Made Bank Faster Than You Can Say 'Chocobo'
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Hasbro's Q2 earnings revealed that the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy expansion made a ludicrous amount of money in a single day, outpacing even the Lord of the Rings set. Looks like cross-brand synergy is the new meta, so buckle up for more crossovers than you can shake a mana crystal at.
Right, so Hasbro dropped their Q2 earnings call, and mate, the numbers are bonkers. Turns out Magic: The Gathering's foray into the world of *Final Fantasy* was less a gentle stroll and more a full-on sprint to the bank. We're talking eye-watering numbers here, all thanks to the power of Cloud, Tifa, and, well, cardboard. (Source: IGN South Africa)
Apparently, this *Universes Beyond* expansion, which let's be honest, was a match made in gamer heaven, raked in a staggering $200 million. Now, that's not too shabby, but here's the kicker: it did it in *one day*. One. Single. Day. Think about that for a sec. I've spent longer than that trying to decide what to have for breakfast.
For comparison, their *Lord of the Rings* set – you know, the one based on the actual granddaddy of all fantasy – took *six months* to hit the same milestone. Six. Months. And while *Lord of the Rings* was a massive success, and they are *still* selling it, it just goes to show how the *Final Fantasy* crossover struck a real chord. It's like they mixed a potion that guaranteed a critical hit with every card sold.
According to Hasbro CEO Chris Cox (and reported by IGN South Africa), the demand was so high, they couldn't even keep up! They bumped up production runs *four times* before release, and apparently, people were still clamouring for more. Sounds familiar? It's like trying to find a decent graphics card during the mining craze – pure chaos.
But what made this so successful? Cox reckons it's all about finding the right intellectual properties that resonate with *Magic* fans, and vice versa. *Lord of the Rings* was a no-brainer, obviously, but *Final Fantasy* might have actually been a *stronger* choice, especially in the gaming sweet spot. It’s a series that was, after all, "born from gaming".
And it seems they're not stopping there. Cox also hinted that they feel pretty good about upcoming collaborations, and they're aiming for that same *Final Fantasy*-level success. So, if you're a fan of crossovers, get ready, because it sounds like Hasbro's got a few more tricks up their sleeve. We already know about *Sonic the Hedgehog*, *Spider-Man*, and *Avatar: The Last Airbender* sets, but what's next? My Little Pony? Warhammer 40k? The possibilities are endless, and frankly, a bit terrifying.
In the meantime, at least it means Hasbro will hopefully keep those *Final Fantasy* cards stocked. Because let's be honest, who *doesn't* want to summon a Cloud Strife or unleash a Meteor on their opponent? Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to check my local game shop. I've got a deck to build, and a world to save – one mana at a time.
Tags: Magic The Gathering, Final Fantasy, Hasbro, Trading Card Games, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa