Popverse's top stories

• DC Comics cancels Red Hood comic book series
• Simon Kinberg on writing X-Men movies, producing Glenn Powell's The Running Man remake, and co-creating Star Wars Rebels [Popversations]
• Better angels and online demons: A trip down the rabbit hole of Downton Abbey fandom

The idea of even considering a new Magic: The Gathering set in the wake of the Final Fantasy crossover's release seems demonic, but these are the times we live in! And I'm not talking about August's sci-fi space opera Edge of Eternities, either. No, Magic: The Gathering has announced two new sets for 2026, and they look awfully familiar. That's on purpose. 

The Magic: The Gathering website has launched a page for Lorwyn Eclipsed, a new set promising a "return to the land of light and shadow" which will be released on January 23, 2026. The description for the set reads simply: "Dare to enter the ever-changing plane of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor and discover your true self." Likewise, on Bluesky, Magic: The Gathering announced a Secrets of Strixhaven set also due for 2026, though we don't have any more details on that one at this time. 

Lorwyn Eclipsed and Secrets of Strixhaven are hitting two very different nostalgia centers for very different audiences. The idyllic Lorwyn plane first debuted in 2007, before the time of many a young Magic player, while the magic school Strixhaven was originally introduced in the Strixhaven: School of Mages set from 2021. 

Like many other hobbies, Magic: The Gathering enjoyed an influx of new players during the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's fair to say that a good chunk of these players remember when the first Strixhaven set came out, even if Lorwyn is significantly before their time. For older players, however, Lorwyn is likely a welcome return that can remind them of the days back when they were younger, more innocent, and had less idea how to play successfully.

Either way, with Lorwyn Eclipsed and Secrets of Strixhaven, Wizards of the Coast have their bases covered between two different eras of Magic: The Gathering, combining for a new future for the game starting in 2026.

The gaming industry has come a long way since Pong blew all our minds in the 70s. We've got everything you need to know about the next big thing in games. Of course, Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the big game of 2026, but there are plenty of other games coming out between now and then. Here is our starter guide for every gamer:

• All upcoming games in 2025 and beyond
• Gamify My Life, our weekly gaming column designed
• Popverse Picks: The best Assassin's Creed protagonists
• How to play every GTA game in order
• Why the GTA 6 budget isn't as crazy as you think
• The Magic: The Gathering x Spider-Man crossover set wouldn't exist without the Spider-Verse

And be sure to check Popverse regularly for the latest gaming news.