Publisher Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic Studios are hitting an important milestone in the development of their upcoming game Magic: Legends. The open beta is beginning for the action-RPG, which aims to bring the exciting gameplay and deep lore of the seminal collectible card game Magic: The Gathering to life.
Magic: Legends will allow players to take control of their very own Planeswalker, the game's powerful mages named for the ability to move between the game's many worlds. Players in Magic: Legends will start out by choosing from one of five classes of Planeswalker. The options, which are tied to the five colors of magic that define the original game, include the Geomancer, the Mind Mage, the Beastcaller, The Sanctifier and the Necromancer.
"Once again Cryptic Studios has demonstrated their ability to bring a beloved franchise like Magic: The Gathering to life in a way that feels authentic to fans and welcoming to players new to the Magic Multiverse," Perfect World CEO Yoon Im said. "As the first-ever action RPG based on Magic: The Gathering, Cryptic has created something really special with Magic: Legends."
Players will also have the choice of five distinct regions to explore inside the game, spread across four of Magic: The Gathering's iconic realms. The areas open for exploration include Shiv, Benalia, Tazeem, Tolaria and Gavony.
Lore and locations won't be the only familiar elements Magic: The Gathering fans will find in Legends. Magic: The Gathering's core themes of collecting and deck-building will be featured in their own way. "The team has spent the last few years creating an action RPG experience unlike any other, which combines the power fantasy of becoming a Planeswalker with fast-paced combat tied to strategic deckbuilding," Cryptic Studios executive producer Stephen Ricossasaid."
Developed by Cryptic Studios and published by Perfect World Entertainment, Magic: Legends arrives on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC later this year. The open beta is available now, and those who sign up by April 6 at 9 a.m. PT will receive a free Moorland Ranger Costume, Moorland Ranger Werewolf Summon Skin and two drop boosts.