Magic: The Gathering developer Wizards of the Coast has announced a new play format coming exclusively to MTG Arena on December 9. Called Alchemy, this new mode will regularly rebalance cards instead of outright banning them, as well as introduce brand new digital-only cards.

While Alchemy will use the same sets and rotation schedule as Standard, Wizards of the Coast is explicit about the fact that this is not intended to replace what it’s now calling “Printed” formats. Instead, it’s using Alchemy to create something new that is free to more fully embrace the digital nature of Arena in a way other digital card games like Hearthstone already do.

That means certain printed cards will have versions with rebalanced text or abilities only seen in Alchemy. For example, notably strong cards like Alrund’s Epiphany and Goldspan Dragon will receive nerfs, while potentially underplayed cards like Phylath, World Sculptor will be buffed (the new versions of all three can be seen in the gallery above). Wizards of the Coast says it plans to keep a close eye on Alchemy’s meta and make further adjustments roughly once a month in order to shake things up.

In addition to changing old cards, new Alchemy supplemental sets will be released through specific booster packs roughly 4-6 weeks after each premier set. The cards within them will feature digital-only mechanics similar to those first introduced in Jumpstart: Historic Horizons earlier this year, and will be tuned in direct response to how the metagame seems to be shaking out at the time.

The first of these supplemental sets will be in the world of the latest set, Innistrad: Crimson Vow, and introduce 63 brand new cards. You can see 10 of those new cards in the gallery above, including the return of the Conjure mechanic that can generate new cards and a zombie creature that Wizards of the Coast says was explicitly intended to help give zombie-themed decks a boost.

While paper play and the usual draft formats will continue as usual, Wizards of the Coast said the need for something like Alchemy arose from the fact that formats get “solved” significantly faster in a digital environment. Standard will continue to be available in Arena as usual, but those looking for a more frequently evolving metagame will now have Alchemy as an option as well.

Wizards of the Coast continuing to lean into Arena’s digital nature is just one more way that the identity of Magic: The Gathering is shifting in recent years. In October, IGN spoke to dozens of pro players and community members about how Magic’s changing identity is changing, as well as its licensed crossover sets with TV shows like Stranger Things or games like Fortnite and Street Fighter.

Magic: The Gathering developer Wizards of the Coast has announced a new play format coming exclusively to MTG Arena on December 9. Called Alchemy, this new mode will regularly rebalance cards instead of outright banning them, as well as introduce brand new digital-only cards.

While Alchemy will use the same sets and rotation schedule as Standard, Wizards of the Coast is explicit about the fact that this is not intended to replace what it’s now calling “Printed” formats. Instead, it’s using Alchemy to create something new that is free to more fully embrace the digital nature of Arena in a way other digital card games like Hearthstone already do.

That means certain printed cards will have versions with rebalanced text or abilities only seen in Alchemy. For example, notably strong cards like Alrund’s Epiphany and Goldspan Dragon will receive nerfs, while potentially underplayed cards like Phylath, World Sculptor will be buffed (the new versions of all three can be seen in the gallery above). Wizards of the Coast says it plans to keep a close eye on Alchemy’s meta and make further adjustments roughly once a month in order to shake things up.

In addition to changing old cards, new Alchemy supplemental sets will be released through specific booster packs roughly 4-6 weeks after each premier set. The cards within them will feature digital-only mechanics similar to those first introduced in Jumpstart: Historic Horizons earlier this year, and will be tuned in direct response to how the metagame seems to be shaking out at the time.

The first of these supplemental sets will be in the world of the latest set, Innistrad: Crimson Vow, and introduce 63 brand new cards. You can see 10 of those new cards in the gallery above, including the return of the Conjure mechanic that can generate new cards and a zombie creature that Wizards of the Coast says was explicitly intended to help give zombie-themed decks a boost.

While paper play and the usual draft formats will continue as usual, Wizards of the Coast said the need for something like Alchemy arose from the fact that formats get “solved” significantly faster in a digital environment. Standard will continue to be available in Arena as usual, but those looking for a more frequently evolving metagame will now have Alchemy as an option as well.

Wizards of the Coast continuing to lean into Arena’s digital nature is just one more way that the identity of Magic: The Gathering is shifting in recent years. In October, IGN spoke to dozens of pro players and community members about how Magic’s changing identity is changing, as well as its licensed crossover sets with TV shows like Stranger Things or games like Fortnite and Street Fighter.

Despite rumors that circulated social media earlier this week, EA is still planning to release two more updates for Madden 22's franchise mode, reiterating what it says is its support for Madden as a live service game.

In a new statement, EA Sports told IGN:

We do not like to comment on rumors or speculation; however, we are committed to continuing to improve Franchise as a part of our ongoing Madden NFL 22 live service and beyond. This includes two upcoming Franchise updates that we'll deliver in Madden NFL 22. We will have more details on the updates in the new year.

The statement follows a report from Sports Gamers Online that EA had opted to cancel additional franchise mode updates for Madden 22. It partly cited IGN's own interview with Madden 22 executive producer Seann Graddy, who said that this year's content roadmap is "slightly less ambitious than years past" because the team is focusing on a few key areas rather than attempting to roll out content on the scale of Superstar KO, a well-received arcade mode introduced in Madden 20.

"I would say [the roadmap is] probably slightly less ambitious than years past because we are really focused on a few core areas of Madden 22 and also getting started up on Madden 23 in a big way,” Graddy said at the time. "So I will stand by what we've always said the last couple of years: we're a live service and we'll continue to update the game, but we're definitely not going to be talking about a brand new mode."

The report garnered attention in part because franchise mode is a sore point with some Madden fans. Indeed, the promised roadmap originally came in response to the #fixmaddenfranchise campaign that circulated Twitter in mid-2020, which began following reports that EA wasn't planning improvements to franchise mode that year.

Since then, EA has released new commissioner tools and other improvements, including a major overhaul of its scouting systems. Madden 22 also introduced an expanded scenario engine, in-season cutscenes, and coaching skill trees. Nevertheless, fans continue to point to various areas where franchise mode can improve relative to the competition, from the relative lack of customization to the myriad bugs.

While EA Sports wouldn't provide any additional details, additional improvements are still on track for some point next year. The updates could include the franchise relocation improvements promised in the original roadmap for Madden 22. Expect more details in 2022.

In the meantime, you can read IGN's review of Madden 22, in which we explain why the series stumbles in its transition to being featured on Xbox Series X|S and PS5. Madden 22 is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN

Despite rumors that circulated social media earlier this week, EA is still planning to release two more updates for Madden 22's franchise mode, reiterating what it says is its support for Madden as a live service game.

In a new statement, EA Sports told IGN:

We do not like to comment on rumors or speculation; however, we are committed to continuing to improve Franchise as a part of our ongoing Madden NFL 22 live service and beyond. This includes two upcoming Franchise updates that we'll deliver in Madden NFL 22. We will have more details on the updates in the new year.

The statement follows a report from Sports Gamers Online that EA had opted to cancel additional franchise mode updates for Madden 22. It partly cited IGN's own interview with Madden 22 executive producer Seann Graddy, who said that this year's content roadmap is "slightly less ambitious than years past" because the team is focusing on a few key areas rather than attempting to roll out content on the scale of Superstar KO, a well-received arcade mode introduced in Madden 20.

"I would say [the roadmap is] probably slightly less ambitious than years past because we are really focused on a few core areas of Madden 22 and also getting started up on Madden 23 in a big way,” Graddy said at the time. "So I will stand by what we've always said the last couple of years: we're a live service and we'll continue to update the game, but we're definitely not going to be talking about a brand new mode."

The report garnered attention in part because franchise mode is a sore point with some Madden fans. Indeed, the promised roadmap originally came in response to the #fixmaddenfranchise campaign that circulated Twitter in mid-2020, which began following reports that EA wasn't planning improvements to franchise mode that year.

Since then, EA has released new commissioner tools and other improvements, including a major overhaul of its scouting systems. Madden 22 also introduced an expanded scenario engine, in-season cutscenes, and coaching skill trees. Nevertheless, fans continue to point to various areas where franchise mode can improve relative to the competition, from the relative lack of customization to the myriad bugs.

While EA Sports wouldn't provide any additional details, additional improvements are still on track for some point next year. The updates could include the franchise relocation improvements promised in the original roadmap for Madden 22. Expect more details in 2022.

In the meantime, you can read IGN's review of Madden 22, in which we explain why the series stumbles in its transition to being featured on Xbox Series X|S and PS5. Madden 22 is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN

EA is restructuring as it shifts focus to building out the Battlefield franchise. Following a troubled launch for Battlefield 2042. DICE general manager Oskar Gabrielson is leaving the company at the end of the year to pursue another role outside of EA. In response, Zampella will be adding DICE to his portfolio of EA studios as Group GM, which already includes Ripple and Respawn, GameSpot reports.

Zampella had already been working more closely with DICE since early 2020, when it was announced he'd be the new head of DICE LA with plans to launch an original game. Zampella's duties at Respawn will reportedly continue as normal, focusing on managing Apex Legends and Respawn's unannounced projects, which potentially includes the rumored Jedi: Fallen Order sequel.

Rebecka Coutaz, former managing director of Ubisoft Annecy (developers of STEEP and support for Assassin's Creed and Ghost Recon), will take over as GM of DICE. Battlefield GM Byron Beede will continue to report to Zampella.

Zampella said that EA plans for the number of employees working on the Battlefield franchise to "grow significantly." Meanwhile, Halo designer Marcus Lehto (who joined EA as a game director in October 2021) is working on building a new Seattle-based studio focused on story content for the Battlefield franchise.

Ripple Effect, the studio behind Battlefield 2042's Portal mode, is also developing a new "Battlefield experience" set in the 2042 universe.

All of this news comes as EA announces that it's working on building a "Battlefield Connected Universe." The goal appears to be to develop multiple Battlefield games or other products across several North American and European studios. EA is remaining quiet on specifics for now, but Lehto's studio, Ripple, and DICE will all be contributing some level of support to Battlefield 2042 for the time being.

Meanwhile, Battlefield 2042 just received its third update, aimed at fixing numerous bugs, improving quality-of-life features, adjusting gameplay balancing, and more. Also, Santa Claus apparently.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/specialist for IGN.

Ed. Note: Minor tonal edits were made to the story.

EA is restructuring as it shifts focus to building out the Battlefield franchise. Following a troubled launch for Battlefield 2042. DICE general manager Oskar Gabrielson is leaving the company at the end of the year to pursue another role outside of EA. In response, Zampella will be adding DICE to his portfolio of EA studios as Group GM, which already includes Ripple and Respawn, GameSpot reports.

Zampella had already been working more closely with DICE since early 2020, when it was announced he'd be the new head of DICE LA with plans to launch an original game. Zampella's duties at Respawn will reportedly continue as normal, focusing on managing Apex Legends and Respawn's unannounced projects, which potentially includes the rumored Jedi: Fallen Order sequel.

Rebecka Coutaz, former managing director of Ubisoft Annecy (developers of STEEP and support for Assassin's Creed and Ghost Recon), will take over as GM of DICE. Battlefield GM Byron Beede will continue to report to Zampella.

Zampella said that EA plans for the number of employees working on the Battlefield franchise to "grow significantly." Meanwhile, Halo designer Marcus Lehto (who joined EA as a game director in October 2021) is working on building a new Seattle-based studio focused on story content for the Battlefield franchise.

Ripple Effect, the studio behind Battlefield 2042's Portal mode, is also developing a new "Battlefield experience" set in the 2042 universe.

All of this news comes as EA announces that it's working on building a "Battlefield Connected Universe." The goal appears to be to develop multiple Battlefield games or other products across several North American and European studios. EA is remaining quiet on specifics for now, but Lehto's studio, Ripple, and DICE will all be contributing some level of support to Battlefield 2042 for the time being.

Meanwhile, Battlefield 2042 just received its third update, aimed at fixing numerous bugs, improving quality-of-life features, adjusting gameplay balancing, and more. Also, Santa Claus for some reason.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/specialist for IGN.

Polyarc has announced that Moss: Book 2 will launch in spring 2022.

While a release date has yet to be set, the launch window means we can expect to see Moss: Book 2 arrive on PlayStation sometime in the first half of next year.

The sequel will build on the story explored in the first Moss, with mouse protagonist Quill dealing with a winged tyrant that is hunting her within the hexed castle. New allies, old friends, and the castle itself will provide aid for Quill and players as they combat enemies twisted in fire and steel, and overcome puzzles.

Moss: Book 2 was first revealed at PlayStation's July State of Play, and is the sequel to what is commonly considered one of the best VR games ever made.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.

Polyarc has announced that Moss: Book 2 will launch in spring 2022.

While a release date has yet to be set, the launch window means we can expect to see Moss: Book 2 arrive on PlayStation sometime in the first half of next year.

The sequel will build on the story explored in the first Moss, with mouse protagonist Quill dealing with a winged tyrant that is hunting her within the hexed castle. New allies, old friends, and the castle itself will provide aid for Quill and players as they combat enemies twisted in fire and steel, and overcome puzzles.

Moss: Book 2 was first revealed at PlayStation's July State of Play, and is the sequel to what is commonly considered one of the best VR games ever made.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.

Update 12/2 1:03 pm PT: EA game director and former Halo creative art director Marcus Lehto has confirmed that he will be working on a Battlefield related project for the Battlefield universe.

In a Tweet, Lehto explains, "A few weeks ago I mentioned that I joined EA, and now it's awesome to finally talk about what I'm doing at EA." He continues, "Battlefield has long been one of my favorite franchises and I'm super excited to be part of a large and growing team of talented developers and studios!"

Lehto's new studio in the Seattle area is looking for new talent with 5-10 years of experience in development with FPS titles as the studio is being built from scratch.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I joined @EA , and now it's awesome to finally talk about what I'm doing at EA.@Battlefield has long been one of my favorite franchises and I'm super excited to be part of a large and growing team of talented developers and studios! https://t.co/oUu4Ob7NaO

— Marcus Lehto (@game_fabricator) December 2, 2021

EA is not only going to continue supporting the recently released Battlefield 2042 but also plans to expand the franchise to create a "connected Battlefield universe. Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella is also now overseeing the Battlefield franchise.

Speaking with GameSpot, Zampella says, "We will continue to evolve and grow Battlefield 2042, and we'll explore new kinds of experiences and business models along the way that we can add to that foundation to provide an awesome array of experiences for our players."

As for what could be in store for a "connected universe," Battlefield Mobile is in development over at Industrial Toys, along with DICE working on a next-gen Battlefield title for both PC and consoles. Additionally, Ripple Effect Studios, formerly DICE LA, is also working on a "yet-to-be-announced project" that will follow Battlefield 2042.

Halo co-creator and founder of Disintegration studio V1 Interactive Marcus Lehto also recently joined EA to lead a new studio that focuses on first-person games, which could indicate something related to Battlefield as well.

The concept of a connected universe for Battlefield doesn't necessarily have to be in the form of games, as the term "experiences" is rather broad. "We intend to build a Battlefield universe, one with multiple projects that are interconnected with the player at the center," says Zampella.

"We plan to grow Battlefield and meet players where they play through various experiences and business models, including our upcoming Battlefield Mobile coming in 2022 from Alex Seropian and Industrial Toys."

EA isn't the only studio with the intention of creating similar connected experiences. Ubisoft is reportedly working on Assassin's Creed Infinity, which looks to be some sort of evolving platform.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey

EA is not only going to continue supporting the recently released Battlefield 2042, but also plans to expand the franchise to create a "connected Battlefield universe. Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella is also now overseeing the Battlefield franchise.

Speaking with GameSpot, Zampella says, "We will continue to evolve and grow Battlefield 2042, and we'll explore new kinds of experiences and business models along the way that we can add to that foundation to provide an awesome array of experiences for our players."

As for what could be in store for a "connected universe," Battlefield Mobile is in development over at Industrial Toys, along with DICE working on a next-gen Battlefield title for both PC and consoles. Additionally, Ripple Effect Studios, formerly DICE LA, is also working on a "yet-to-be-announced project" that will follow Battlefield 2042.

Halo co-creator and founder of Disintegration studio V1 Interactive Marcus Lehto also recently joined EA to lead a new studio that focuses on first-person games, which could indicate something related to Battlefield as well.

The concept of a connected universe for Battlefield doesn't necessarily have to be in the form of games, as the term "experiences" is rather broad. "We intend to build a Battlefield universe, one with multiple projects that are interconnected with the player at the center," says Zampella.

"We plan to grow Battlefield and meet players where they play through various experiences and business models, including our upcoming Battlefield Mobile coming in 2022 from Alex Seropian and Industrial Toys."

EA isn't the only studio with the intention of creating similar connected experiences. Ubisoft is reportedly working on Assassin's Creed Infinity, which looks to be some sort of evolving platform.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey