Fans of trading card games have two reasons to be happy today, March 8th. Two trading card games are going on sale and are now also available online: Star Wars Unlimited with the first set of cards and Disney Lorcana with the third wave of cards.
It is a duel between two potential giants in the trading card game genre: For one - Disney Lorcana - we already know. For the other title - Star Wars Unlimited - it remains to be seen. Fantasy Flight Games' new TCG will hit the shelves on March 8th with the first wave of cards, "Spark of Rebellion". Previously, the trading card game could only be played and bought during a pre-release week. Now, however, the entire range of Star Wars Unlimited products, from individual boosters to displays, can be bought in specialist shops, in retail stores and online.
Disney Lorcana: The Inklands
Ravensburger is doing something similar with Disney Lorcana: the third set was initially available in stationary specialist shops from February 23rd and will also be launched in general retail on March 8th. The trading card game triggered a real hype when it was released last year, and the cards are now mostly easy to get hold of. With "The Inklands", Disney Lorcana is already in its third round.
With each new wave of Disney Locana cards, the creators have pushed the trading card game forward a little, implementing new abilities and now a new card type. Ravensburger's trading card game is gradually becoming more complex as it starts organized play. Those who were previously unsure whether Disney Lorcana would be able to keep up in the long term should benefit from the constant adjustments. Because: All cards are - typically TCG - compatible with each other, so they can be used with cards from previous sets. This is good for deck building, because fans can always find something new. strong combinations or synergies discover that make individual cards or even entire decks powerful.
For Ravensburger, Disney Lorcana is all about regularly offering fans of the game new content and expanding the community. The trading card game was a huge hit on the market when it was released and ultimately even had cross-industry effects: At Gamescom last year, the Ravensburger stand was packed. The reason: Disney Lorcana.
The popularity of such games and the overlap of target groups have also been recognized by the trade fair organizers in Cologne - this year there will therefore be a separate area for board games at Gamescom 2024. This is most likely also due to the hype surrounding Ravensburger's licensed TCG.
In view of the double launch, not only Ravensburger, Fantasy Flight Games and Asmodee will be pleased, but above all Disney, because the company holds the licenses to both Star Wars Unlimited as well as Disney Lorcana. It remains to be seen whether Embracer will also make a profit. The owner of the Asmodee Group could urgently use some good economic news. Asmodee was already the company in the Swedish group that could be described as a balance sheet savior.
Star Wars Unlimited: trading starts
Fantasy Flight Games and Asmodee may have slightly different objectives. The publishers are Star Wars Unlimited It was all about building a community and making the game popular with its launch in retail. Pre-release phase had already shown that we are on the right track – time will tell the rest.
Asmodee confirms these impressions: "The broad participation of retailers and players in the pre-release events underlined the strong connection between the Star Wars fan base and the gaming community in Germany," writes Asmodee. With this positive response, Star Wars: Unlimited is looking forward to its official release on March 8th and "continues to promise a captivating gaming experience for fans and trading card game enthusiasts." According to Asmodee, the early launch of Star Wars: Unlimited on March 1st was a "complete success" in Germany. A total of 180 retailers took part in the pre-release last weekend. Almost 4.000 players were also there.
Star Wars: Unlimited is designed to appeal to players of all skill levels and offers a
Fast, strategic and entertaining gameplay that is both easy to learn as well as
is pleasant to master.
The debut set entitled “The Spark of Rebellion” presents over 250 unique cardsThree new sets are to be released annually. Many Plans are at Fantasy Flight Games already in the drawers or on the planning tables.
“Our team at Fantasy Flight Games has worked hard to capture the essence of the Star Wars saga in
this game. It is action-packed and thematic, but also incredibly
accessible to new players,” said Jim Cartwright, VP of Strategy at Fantasy Flight Games. “The
The release of Star Wars: Unlimited not only marks the completion of our hard work,
but also the beginning of an extensive journey in gaming.”
Asmodee CEO: “Groundbreaking moment for our industry”
Star Wars: Unlimited offers a unique gaming experience with every playthrough. Players have the
Freedom to create decks that suit their playstyles – with each card
offers different actions and strategies. The matches unfold at different
locations, including ground and space arenas, ensuring an engaging and
adventurous gaming experience. The visually stunning maps with exclusive new artwork
will captivate players and pay tribute to the rich tradition of the Star Wars galaxy.
“The release of Star Wars: Unlimited is a groundbreaking moment for our industry. We
We are pleased to extend our Star Wars expertise in board games and tabletop to TCGs
Because this game offers a completely new way for fans to immerse themselves in the Star Wars franchise
“, said Udo Fischer, CEO of Asmodee Germany. “With its captivating mechanism
and well-known characters, Star Wars: Unlimited is an unlimited gaming experience for Star Wars and
trading card game enthusiasts."
Organized Play should also be an essential aspect of Star Wars: Unlimited and everything from local
community events up to global activations.
Two trading card games, one target group?
Both Star Wars Unlimited and Disney Lorcana enrich the trading card genre, but they also need long-term economic success to stay on the market. A frequently expressed criticism, especially with trading card games, is that they cost a lot of money. With new content released regularly, fans should be encouraged to buy boosters and displays in order to keep their decks up to date and powerful.
Supporting two new trading card games on a long-term basis is therefore a plan that only a few players will actually implement. Conversely, this means that they will – sooner or later – decide on one trading card game. In this specific case, this would mean: Star Wars Unlimited or Disney Lorcana?
However, the two trading card games are unlikely to compete for fans, as their target groups differ significantly. Yes, both games are beginner-friendly, but they also have their own advantages that particularly appeal to certain types of players. With Disney Lorcana, it is the broad license that allows them to appeal to a young and mixed audience; the proportion of female fans is particularly high, as emerged from discussions with retailers.
Star Wars Unlimited, on the other hand, is primarily aimed at those who can relate to the Star Wars stories or who are at least not averse to the topic of "Star Wars" in principle. Here, too, the composition of the community is mixed, which is not least thanks to the streaming services on Disney Plus: Young players will find current, but above all child-friendly or youth-oriented series there, which will give them access to the franchise. On the other hand, there are older fans who may have grown up with the Star Wars films or discovered the story for themselves later and have remained loyal to the brand.
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