An all-new trading card game is jumping to the market — Star Wars: Unlimited. Taking aim at Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, can the new TCG game even make a dent in the industry?
Developed by Lord of the Rings TCG creators Fantasy Flight, Star Wars: Unlimited is aiming for a 2024 release.
In development for three years, the new sci-fi trading card game has been through constant playtests and improvements. Designed to be accessible to all, the new card game aims to avoid many of the gimmicks found in more complex games.
After the game releases next year, Fantasy Flight plans for constant support. On launch, updates will arrive frequently with only three sets releasing every year to make sure fans don’t fall behind.
The Star Wars: Unlimited TCG will include characters, locations, vehicles and items from across every era of the galaxy far, far away. From The High Republic to the Sequel Trilogy, everything will be featured eventually.
Furthermore, the card game is planned to evolve alongside the mainline series. For example, when James Mangold’s movie about the Dawn of the Jedi releases, we could see a set focusing on that era.
Fantasy Flight is clear to state that Star Wars: Unlimited is made for TCG newcomers to get involved in. While it could get more complicated with future sets, its launch content is designed to be accessible.
“Ensuring this game was accessible to all players was key for us,” explained Jim Cartwright, product strategy director at Fantasy Flight. “Whether you are a casual player, competitor, or collector, there’s something for everyone in this game. Straightforward mechanics are the driving force behind the design. It’s clean and concise with no gimmicks – a card game in its purest form."
It seems unlikely that Star Wars: Unlimited will ever crack the top three of Magic, Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh. While new card games such as Dragon Ball and Digimon have performed admirably in recent years, none hold a candle to the aforementioned giants.
Star Wars: Unlimited comes just after Disney’s Lorcana card game. Another entry-level TCG, the new game brings countless Disney characters to the tabletop battlefield.