Hasbro, parent company of Wizards of the Coast (WotC), today released its second-quarter financial results, marked by a 27% increase in revenue thanks to WotC's Digital Gaming segment. Once again, Magic: The Gathering was the primary driver of earnings, bolstered by Secrets of Strixhaven and the recent Magic: The Gathering | Marvel Super Heroes.

During the Q2 2026 earnings call, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks stated that Magic: The Gathering | Marvel Super Heroes set a new revenue record for both Day One and the first month, additionally becoming the fastest set to reach $300 million in sales. When asked to compare it to 2025's Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY, Cocks noted that the product had a very strong start and benefited from greater availability at launch, accompanied by excellent sales results and consistent reorders.

However, Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY remains the biggest Magic set ever. Cocks explained that, after its initial launch, it could count on a more robust range of subsequent and complementary products.

"We're very happy with both of them," Cocks said. "But you're going to have a hard time getting us to compare third-party IPs to each other. That's something we definitely like to avoid."

Faced with numerous questions and growing interest in Magic: The Gathering during financial conference calls, Cocks took time to explain what Magic truly represents as a business. His very articulated answer clarifies how Magic is by no means a secondary hobby, as some might have considered it in the past.

"Magic, while by far our largest brand, is also, in many respects, our least understood. Magic is not a niche hobby business: it is a mega-franchise," Cocks stated. "Magic: The Gathering belongs in the same category as Pokémon, EA Sports, World of Warcraft, and Minecraft. What distinguishes Magic is its longevity. Magic has grown cumulatively for over 30 years. It is also a deep game, and it is this very depth and complexity that our players love. Magic enthusiasts play and collect for years because you never stop learning and improving. It is this ability to retain players that fuels a robust secondary market and a passionate community of tens of millions of fans, who consider the game a lifelong interest rather than a passing fad."

"The numbers prove it," Cocks continued. "Since 2009, our Magic businesses, both tabletop and digital, have seen compounded revenue growth of over 17% annually and have grown in 15 of the last 17 years. In the two years where growth did not occur, the decline was less than 3% in both cases. Looking at Magic over a sufficiently long time horizon reveals one of the most consistently growing franchises in the entertainment industry, a true competitor to the biggest names in gaming. And with Universes Beyond, it has become more than just a game: it's a platform, with an economy and true platform potential."

Recalling the announcement of the three Magic Universes Beyond sets, revealed last weekend during the MagicCon: Amsterdam preview panels, Cocks also praised the yet-to-be-announced Universes Beyond sets arriving in 2027. He stated that the involved intellectual properties, which will be three next year, are very strong and that fans will be thrilled.

"One thing I can say about the Universes Beyond partners that we'll have next year is that they're going to be a little bit more in the fantasy genre," Cocks stated. "And I don't think any of those projects will be set in New York City, because we definitely got some feedback from fans on that one."

During the conference call, Cocks also repeatedly referred to digital investments, praising the company's current offerings. He stated that MTG Arena has generated nearly a billion dollars since its launch in 2019.

However, he added that he still believes the digital sector offers significant room for growth, as Hasbro invests in new initiatives to expand the game beyond what Arena currently offers. According to Cocks, these digital investments will not yield concrete results in 2027 but are primarily aimed at 2028 and beyond.

Read the press release and review Hasbro's second-quarter financial results presentation.

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English Source: https://articles.starcitygames.com/