'Magic: the Gathering' Future Sets Could be Generated with AI, Per MTG Designer

"Magic: The Gathering" has long been known for being a fun card game, and because of the art one could find on its cards. Now, an MTG developer warns that the future of cards could be AI-generated.

How AI Art Could Create MTG-Style Artwork and Potentially Replace Designers

This comes at a time when AI art is getting more popular as it provides even non-artists a way to generate new pieces in the style of other artists. With the use of the right prompts, anyone could be able to create MTG-styled artwork, replacing designers.

According to the story by MTG Rocks, it often takes a while before new sets release due to the time and effort it takes to create new cards. It gave the example of how Wizards of the Coast had a two-and-a-half-year-long development cycle that involved designing and playtesting.

Now, artificial intelligence solutions like ChatGPT can help complete tasks in seconds compared to hours or days otherwise spent. Because of this, creators could use the AI tool not just in art but also in developing potential characters.

'Magic: The Gathering' Lead Designer Shares the Future of Potential AI Use

Its speed could have a major effect on developing new "Magic: The Gathering" sets if used and speed up its development time. Although it was noted that MTG, as of press time, remains "a step too far for AI to handle," one of its designers thinks that this could change in the future.

Specifically, it wasn't just any designer but MTG's actual Lead Designer. It was noted that it might only be a matter of time before the use of AI would be integrated into the entire development of MTG sets.

Lead Designer Shares How Certain Things Needed to be Dealt With Before AI Use

Mark Rosewater, Lead Designer of MTG, said that the plan could be using ChatGPT to speed up developing "Magic: The Gathering" cards. This was in response to a Q&A regarding the use of AI in card development.

Rosewater said he believed there could be a day when they used AI in design. However, it was noted that there were still multiple issues that needed to be dealt with before they officially started using AI for MTG cards.

How the Use of AI Could Affect MTG Sets

Should they decide to use AI to speed up the development process of "Magic: The Gathering" cards, this could either lead to jobs of designers being affected or a faster development time for new MTG sets. The effects could also be a combination of both.

Only time will tell whether MTG will adopt the use of AI to develop its cards. However, should this happen, this could potentially increase the production cycle or volume, providing players with either faster or more cards to play with.

Fans will just have to wait and see as to whether "Magic: The Gathering" would eventually use AI to either supplement, support, or even replace some designers when it comes to set development.