Mark Rosewater, the lead designer for Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast, a veteran who has created cards for every playable Magic format, recently shared a surprising personal insight at MagicCon Atlanta. During a press Q&A session, Rosewater candidly admitted that he isn`t a personal fan of Commander, despite its status as MTG`s most widely played format.
When asked about potential player fatigue with “Universes Beyond” – Magic`s ongoing collaborations with various external intellectual properties – Rosewater expressed understanding. He noted that he empathizes with players who might not fully embrace crossover sets, as he himself holds similar reservations about other popular aspects of Magic, specifically pointing to the Commander format.
Rosewater frankly articulated his aversion: “I`m not a Commander fan.” He clarified his perspective, explaining that for him, Magic is fundamentally a strategic game where success is achieved by outsmarting an opponent. In contrast, he views Commander not as a strategic game, but as a “political game” centered on player interaction and diplomacy.
Through its blend of four-player gameplay and an extensive card pool, Commander has grown from a niche format into the most popular way to play Magic. Its widespread appeal is further underscored by recent expansions, including the Final Fantasy and Edge of Eternities sets, which now feature pre-constructed Commander decks, making it easier for new players to quickly join a game.
The format`s immense popularity prompted Rosewater to “do some soul searching,” as he worried that “Magic`s becoming something that really isn`t my thing.”
He eventually reconciled with the format, recognizing the happiness it brings to a vast number of players. He also found peace in knowing he always has the option to play one of Magic`s many one-on-one formats, such as Legacy or Modern, whenever he chooses.
Rosewater ultimately embraced Commander`s success, stating, “The more people play, and the more people enjoy it, the better the game is.” He reflected on his personal journey to acceptance: “I just had to emotionally come to grips with how many people are just really, really happy. I had to accept, as a player, that Magic is better when other people are happy.”
MagicCon Atlanta also served as the venue for announcing Magic: The Gathering`s complete 2026 release schedule. This includes upcoming expansions based on beloved intellectual properties such as The Hobbit, Star Trek, and Marvel Super Heroes. Additionally, several limited-edition Secret Lair drops were unveiled, featuring collaborations with PlayStation, The Office, Furby, and Jaws.