Edge of Eternities was never a Star Trek test run, Magic designer says
When Wizards of the Coast announced a Star Trek Universes Beyond set for Magic: The Gathering coming in 2026, many players assumed that Edge of Eternities, the game’s recently-released sci-fi set, had been developed as a test run for the Star Trek collaboration. Edge of Eternities, which launched in 2025, prominently features hard sci-fi worldbuilding with spaceships, alien worlds, and space-themed lands—a notable shift from Magic’s traditional fantasy setting.
According to Magic principal designer Gavin Verhey, however, this assumption is unfounded. During an interview at MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026, Verhey clarified that Edge of Eternities was not developed in preparation for the Star Trek set. While earlier sets like Aetherdrift had incorporated sci-fi elements, Edge of Eternities represented Wizards of the Coast’s fuller exploration of science-fiction themes within Magic’s design space. This design direction reflects the studio’s organic evolution rather than deliberate groundwork for licensed partnerships.
Verhey’s clarification challenges a common industry pattern where experimental successful sets often precede related intellectual property expansions. Instead, it suggests that Wizards of the Coast’s expanding creative range—encompassing hard sci-fi alongside fantasy—represents natural design progression rather than strategic preparation for specific collaborations.