Physical Magic: The Gathering Cards Provide In-Game Item Codes

Since 1993, Magic: The Gathering has been one of the most popular card games found in the hearts of geeks and nerds alike. But like with all things, it too can succumb to the digital era. This has resulted in the digital version of the game, called Magic: The Gathering Arena. To promote the electronic variant, digital download codes of random rewards can be found in physical booster packs.

Card game creators Wizards of the Coast is developing M:TGA internally. Currently, the game is in an invite-only closed beta, with the exception of New Zealand. When Dominaria, the newest physical card pack, is released later this week, booster packs in New Zealand will include digital codes for both access to the M:TGA beta, as well as either a random digital card or some in-game currency.

It's important to note that the items you get in the digital game do not correlate with what you'll find in your physical booster packs. They are entirely random.

Why New Zealand? This is simply a regional test before launching the game on a worldwide market. Once the game leaves beta, all accounts will be given a final wipe. So any cards acquired from the booster pack beta phase will be gone upon full release.

If you're a big fan of Magic: The Gathering, and wish it had its own Hearthstone, then you won't need to wait much longer.