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Since the early Shōnen Jump days of Yu-Gi-Oh!, fans have wanted more of the series, prompting the card game to become a real-life trading card game. For over 20 years, players have been given several anime series, video games, and even a few movies. These cover fascinating and fierce duelists and their stories, but few have touched on the histories and archetypes within the cards.
Earlier this year, Konami revealed the new Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel game with features like 4K graphics, deck building and battling online featuring cards that extend over two decades, and free-to-play access on console and mobile. Master Duel gives players a full TCG and OCG experience and will also be used officially for the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship series. However, this new game doesn't follow the anime characters' stories but instead takes a new approach.
At the Tokyo Game Show 2021, Konami gave fans a look at the upcoming game, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, which is changing things up for the game series. Instead of focusing on a protagonist, this game follows the stories drawn on the cards and online TCG and OCG competitions. Single-player Story Mode will be based around the lore and history of certain archetypes and cards, letting players duel through the legends surrounding the different storylines.
Teased in the presentation were storylines for "Duel Terminal" and "Hidden Arsenal," where players use pre-built decks to clear story missions. The art featured on the menu screen hints that the tragic "World Legacy" story may also be included as a playable storyline. Outside of story mode, players will be able to duel each other following the TCG and OCG guidelines and rules.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel will feature over 10,000 cards from the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! Card history. These include fan-favorites Duel Monsters like the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, the Dark Magician, and even Exodia the Forbidden One. Though the details on how players will acquire cards are somewhat unknown, there is confirmation of a "gem" system that can be used to purchase card packs from shops within the game.
In the preview gameplay at the TGS, these gems were rewards after completing missions, giving gamers hope for a less microtransaction system compared to games like Duel Links. Many older fans of the series will rejoice since the dueling system will follow the TCG and OCG format, giving players 8,000 Life Points to start with instead of the Speed Duel style featured in many current games available.
Though the cross-platform play has not been confirmed, many speculate that it is possible since it will be integrated into the Championship competitions. Komani has not given a definitive release date at this time but has said to expect the game this winter.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel will be released on Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S this winter.
Source Komani