MTG Survey on Spider-Man Backlash Reveals a Loaded Question Aimed at Influencers

Wizards of the Coast (WotC) recently deployed a survey to gather feedback on the widely criticized Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man set, part of its controversial Universes Beyond crossover series. While an official attempt to address community backlash is a welcome sign, the survey contains a specific question that has sparked a new wave of controversy, with many in the community—especially content creators—seeing it as an act of blame-shifting.

The “catch” in the survey is a highly debated question that appears to gauge the impact of negative commentary from the MTG influencer and content creation sphere on players’ perceptions of the set.

The Loaded Question: Pinning the Blame on Creators?

The survey, which solicited general feedback on the set’s themes, mechanics, and reception, included a particularly contentious follow-up for players who cited content creators as their primary source of information on the Spider-Man set:

“To what degree did negative influencer commentary impact your perceptions of Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man before the set released?”

The available responses ranged from “1 = Greatly worsened my perception” to “5 = Greatly improved my perception.”

Why This Caused a New Backlash:

1. Perceived Blame-Shifting: Players and prominent Magic: The Gathering figures, including Hall of Famers, interpreted the question as WotC attempting to deflect responsibility for the set’s poor reception onto the content creators who reviewed it negatively. The sentiment is that WotC is implying the set was perceived negatively because influencers complained, rather than because the set itself had design or quality issues (e.g., simplistic cards like ‘Hot Dog Cart’ or an uninspired Limited format).
2. “Witch Hunt” Fears: Compounding the issue, the survey also asked participants to name the streamers and content creators they watch. This combination fueled speculation that WotC might be tracking critical voices or adjusting its outreach/sponsorship programs based on the feedback, leading some creators and players to refuse to answer the question.
3. Set’s Flaws Still Unaddressed: Critics argue the focus on external commentary distracts from the core community complaints, which centered on the set’s rushed feel, lack of mechanical depth, and the perceived over-saturation of the Universes Beyond line, which many feel is diluting the game’s core fantasy identity.

WotC’s Response: Admitting a “Mistake”

Following the swift and widespread community outcry, WotC staff, including Magic’s Head Designer Mark Rosewater, addressed the issue. They acknowledged that the wording was poorly chosen and “sucks,” assuring the community that the intent was not malicious nor an attempt to target the content creator base. The explanation offered was that the question was simply a mistake in its negative focus and structure and would not be used to “attack” the creator community.

While the apology was accepted by some, the incident has further strained relations with a community already vocal about the rapid pace of MTG releases and the increasing integration of third-party IP into what was once a distinct fantasy universe. With more Universes Beyond sets like Marvel Super Heroes and The Hobbit confirmed for 2026, the debate over the line’s impact on the Magic: The Gathering brand is far from over.