Announcement from Wizards of the Coast

Richard Garfield

Dear Friends of Magic,

My relationship with Wizards of the Coast has been strong over the last ten years. I have been given respect and all the influence I could want on Wizards products and strategies. Hasbro in turn has treated Wizards in general, and me specifically, with similar respect. In exchange I have taken these responsibilities seriously, and tried to act in the mutual best interest of Wizards, and the game playing community that I felt I represented.

My personal interests are broader than these, however, and it is time for me to pursue them. Wizards and I will be changing our relationship to accommodate this, while still allowing me to continue working on Magic and other Wizards games - as a consultant rather than as a full time employee. These interests include network computer games, board games, non-trading card games, educational games, and, of course, my young family. Where these interests overlap with Hasbro's I will certainly go to them first to publish - since our history together would make them my first choice.

Magic has not taken a lot of my time in the past few years because I have such confidence in the team that is running it. I have designed for Magic and represented it at events, and these have been activities that I have cherished. Be assured, I will have plenty of opportunity to continue contributing in this manner, and I intend to do so. I plan to be in the Wizards' offices at least one day per week to continue working on trading card games Wizards has under development.

Thank you for your support over the years, and in the future -

Keep playing games -

Richard Garfield