There have been a lot of happenings over the past week in the tabletop world and we’ve got some quick news bits for you.
Space Cowboys Reveal SpellBook
Asmodee-owned studio Space Cowboys (Splendor, Unlock, Time Stories) has announced their next game that will be releasing in September. Titled Spellbook, it’s from veteran designer Phil Walker-Harding (Sushi Go!, Gizmos) and is billed as “a game that invites the most courageous players to the Grand Annual Rite of Magicians!”
“SpellBook provides a deep and intense play experience. While the game provides pre-drawn spell sets for early rounds, it really takes off when players start drawing spells randomly, or when they create their own combinations, common to all players. Each spell combination gives an effect that lasts the rest of the game, and the more ingenious the combination, the more powerful the effect. From then on, rounds progress, one after another, and are different each time!”
SpellBook will be demoed for the first time at Gen Con 2023, with a few early boxes available for sale.
Warhammer 40,000: Leviathan Sells Out Online
The 10th edition of this tabletop skirmish game from Games Workshop was expected to receive high demand. It went on sale over the weekend for $250 with Games Workshop even implementing a queueing system and limiting how many copies a customer could buy. But apparently, the demand was even greater than expected as the pre-order didn’t last even close to the stated 2-week pre-order window, selling out that same day in the US. Gamers interested in buying this new set are being told to visit a local store to get a copy.
The Hunt for the One Right Magic: The Gathering Card Hits $2,000,000
When Magic: The Gathering (Mtg) publisher Wizards of the Coast announced their plans for a Lord of the Rings themed set, you had to know it was going to be popular. This was doubly obvious once they revealed the card based on the famed One Ring. While limited edition cards are nothing new for Mtg, this is the first card that’s been limited to 1 of 1. Hidden among the random boosters for this set will be a single One Ring card. This has sparked a massive interest from Mtg players, Lord of the Rings fans, collectors, and others.
The bounty heated up with football player Cassius Marsh who offered a cool $500k for the card. That was quickly topped by Dave & Adams Card World who doubled the bounty to $1 million. That bounty didn’t even last a week as now Spanish gaming store Gremio de Dregones says it’s offering 2 million euros for the card. Previously, the highest-selling MtG card was the ever-in-demand Black Lotus card, but even that has never cleared $1 million.
Embracer Group to Close Studios, Lay Off Staff
In an open letter this week, the Embracer Group announced that it will be closing some studios, canceling unannounced games, and laying off staff. This is to help take care of its $1 billion+ in debt. You may have heard of the Embracer Group as they bought tabletop publisher mega giant Asmodee back in 2021 for €2.75 billion. While the letter didn’t state what studios would be closing, or if it will even affect their board game division, Asmodee seems to be doing pretty well compared to Embracers video game division:
“Asmodee recorded about $1.22bn of sales in the last financial year – comparable to the $1.25bn for Embracer’s video games segment, which includes franchises such as Tomb Raider, Borderlands, Metro Exodus and Dead Island.”
Just to clarify for those hunting the 1/1 ring, it will only be in an English collector booster.