Magic competitor Altered breaks records with $6.7 million Kickstarter
Alteredthe new new trading card game from launch Equinox Studiobroke records with its inauguration crowdfunding campaign. With nearly $7 million earned from nearly 15,000 backers, it becomes the single most funded TCG once ran on Kickstarter. The new card game, which in addition to games like Magic: the meeting And Disney Lorcanaexpected to release on August 26, 2024
“We are overwhelmed by the incredible support and enthusiasm of our donors during this campaign,” said Régis Bonnesée, founder and CEO of Equinox, in a press release. “The success of our Kickstarter campaign not only validates our vision Altered but also inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation in gaming. We are extremely grateful to every donor who has joined us on this journey.”
Game designer Bonnesée, formerly the founder of Libellud (Dixit, Mysterium, Seasons), offered a unique vision for a modern TCG, a vision that clearly resonated with supporters during the campaign. Games from Altered feature a new back-and-forth mechanic that emphasizes bringing people together, not destroying their life points. The game also offers a bright and inclusive art style that stands in stark contrast to other games with more grim themes. But the digital aspect is what has really attracted attention.
Every card inside Altered has a QR code that, when scanned, locks ownership of that card to a consumer’s digital account. Once obtained, additional copies of that card can be ordered at any time for a fee, opening up the game to the use of proxies on a near-industrial scale. Equinox will also provide a digital, global, real-money marketplace where digital rights to cards can be bought and sold, transferring their ownership without the physical cards themselves ever having to change hands.
The success of the campaign is also good news for tabletop game publisher and distributor Asmodee, which has partnered with Equinox for global sales and distribution. Asmodee, recently acquired by Embracer for a valuation of more than $3.1 billion, is among the largest global distributors of TCGs, including Magic: the meeting. It was one of the few bright spots in Embracer’s recent financial reports. In this way, its financial situation closely mirrors that of Hasbro, whose books have stabilized marginally by sales of Magic, a blockbuster from the 31-year-old TCG that seems more popular than ever. Meanwhile, like Embracer, Hasbro recently opted for layoffs across the company to balance the books – just in time for the holidays.