Magic the Gathering: Arena
Project Summary
Magic: The Gathering Arena or "MTG Arena" is a free-to-play digital collectible card game developed and published by Wizards of the Coast. The game is a digital adaption based on the Magic: The Gathering card game, allowing players to gain cards through booster packs, in-game achievements or purchases, and build their own decks to challenge other players.
What I Did
Directed technology development and data integration for the Magic.gg website and MTG Arena, enabling player-facing features, tournament support, and real-time web-to-client decklist synchronization.
Challenges & Solutions
Built tools, pipelines, and data integrations to support players, web platforms, and esports operations
Managed complex card data processing for over 40,000 unique cards spanning legacy formats and Universes Beyond
Replaced manual workflows with custom scripts and automated systems for set releases and tournament logistics
Overcame legacy tech limitations by introducing scalable, ingestible data formats for web and game integration
My Impact
Increased usage of web-to-client decklist integration by 45%, improving player engagement across Magic.gg and MTG Arena
Enabled over 200 million Twitch extension interactions through Cardboard Live Twitch integrations
Delivered a full-featured end-to-end decklist experience across Twitch, Magic.gg, and the Arena mobile/PC game client
Improved tournament UX for tens of thousands of players and viewers through seamless data and web content pipelines
Contributions
Led development of client-to-web decklist sharing for netdecking and tournament prep
Integrated Cardboard Live to display real-time decklists during livestreams and events
Streamlined XML ingestion workflows for set releases using Python and custom tooling
Served as liaison between game dev, web, esports, and platform teams to unify player experiences and delight players and fans
Shipped 23 new card sets delighting millions of fans across the globe
Magic the Gathering: Arena Launch Trailer
From May 2019 to December 2022, I had the privilege of working at Wizards of the Coast, contributing to the development and release of over 10 Magic: The Gathering card sets, the Magic.gg website, and Magic the Gathering: Arena on both mobile and PC. During this time, I was fortunate to play a part in the intricate process behind one of the most beloved trading card games in the world. My role spanned not just creative production but also technological innovation, website management, and partnerships with data and tournament teams, all of which helped shape the future of Magic.
Tools of the Trade
At Wizards, the variety of tools I leveraged was key to my productivity. Some of the most impactful tools I used included:
Postman: This API testing tool was essential for verifying connections and debugging database interactions within our card data system. It helped streamline our processes for card design approval and data submission to ensure everything was running smoothly.
Tableau: As Magic: The Gathering is data-intensive, Tableau became an invaluable resource for querying our database, managing large groups or customers, and extracting insights quickly to inform design, marketing, and production decisions.
Excel: In the fast-paced world of card set releases, Excel was an unsung hero. Whether I was running complex calculations, managing version control, or tracking timelines and task assignments, Excel remained a cornerstone of my daily workflow.
Unity Engine: Although primarily used by our designers and engineers, my familiarity with Unity helped me understand the translation of card mechanics into the digital space, enabling better communication with teams working on Magic: The Gathering Arena. I worked with custom scripts to generate card assets, test drive features, render custom art, and much more.
Adobe InDesign: Working with thousands of cards requires precision, and I worked with our technical artists team to help programmatically streamline text formatting and art placement, saving countless hours in typesetting and layout adjustments during the final stages of production.
Adobe Creative Suite: For any visual or creative elements I touched, including videos, visual effects, and promotional materials, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro were indispensable tools in maintaining consistency across all media channels.
Jira & Confluence: Tracking tasks, managing cross-team collaboration, and documenting processes were facilitated by Jira and Confluence, ensuring everyone was aligned on deadlines, objectives, and the inevitable last-minute changes that come with such a dynamic product.
Starting the SPARK Team: Automating for Efficiency
One of my proudest achievements was founding the SPARK team, whose mission was to eliminate Repetitive, Error-prone, Stressful, and Time-consuming (R.E.S.T.) tasks through automation. We streamlined various production processes by building custom scripts and automating workflows, particularly around card data entry and API integration. This drastically reduced manual work, freeing up time for more creative endeavors and reducing the risk of human error.
This initiative improved efficiency across teams and allowed us to maintain the high standards required for Magic: The Gathering’s ongoing success.
By utilizing a combination of custom scripts, automated API calls, and workflow integrations through tools like Postman and SQL, we drastically reduced the manual effort required for key tasks. This not only freed up valuable time for more creative work but also reduced the risk of human error in our card data entry and approval systems. The result was a more seamless production pipeline with fewer bottlenecks, allowing us to keep up with the high demand for timely and error-free Magic: The Gathering releases.
Owning the Magic.gg Website
As the website owner for Magic.gg, I was responsible for creating a seamless online experience that catered to Magic fans, players, and esports enthusiasts alike. Managing the site involved collaborating with external data partners (API services), tournament organizers, and internal teams to ensure that real-time updates, tournament information, and player statistics were accurately reflected on the platform.
My role in Magic.gg required an understanding of both the technical infrastructure and the player experience. I worked closely with data engineers and tournament partners to integrate tournament results and automate content updates, ensuring fans could follow their favorite players and events without delays. These collaborations were crucial in maintaining a high level of engagement for the Magic competitive community, especially during key tournaments and esports broadcasts.
Welcoming and Collaborative Culture
One of the things that made Wizards such a great place to work was the welcoming, collaborative culture. From day one, I was part of an environment that encouraged innovation and creativity. Whether it was the legendary whiteboard sessions, where we brainstormed everything from card mechanics to production challenges, or the spontaneous discussions that helped shape key decisions, there was always a sense of camaraderie and openness.
Amazing Teams
WOTC is in a league of it’s own when it comes to your coworkers. They are without a doubt some of the most creative, friendly, supportive, and wonderful people you’ll ever meet.
The company’s culture wasn’t just about work—it was about building relationships. One of the most memorable moments was the Hyggeween party in October 2019, a unique celebration of Halloween infused with the cozy, Danish concept of "hygge." It reflected the balance Wizards struck between driving high performance and creating a supportive, family-like atmosphere.
A Collaborative Journey
My time at Wizards of the Coast was defined by collaboration. I worked with some of the most talented individuals across design, development, and operations. Together, we launched a number of groundbreaking Magic sets, each more ambitious than the last. The environment was fast-paced, but the innovative spirit of the team and the resources we had at our disposal made every project a rewarding challenge.
As I look back on my journey with Wizards of the Coast, it’s the blend of creativity and technology that stands out most. From the development of Magic card sets to the automation breakthroughs driven by the SPARK team, I am proud to have played a role in shaping the future of the game—and the company itself.
In this industry, innovation is often about small improvements that lead to big changes, and I’m grateful to have contributed to Wizards in that way.