Magic: The Gathering Companion App Adds A New Feature

The official Magic: The Gathering Companion app is now available in Open Beta, and new update was recently announced for it.

Tens of thousands of users have used the app, and the developers have been listening to feedback as they add new features to make improvements before they officially release it. The first feature they've rolled out for testing is something they call "home tournament organizer" functionality.

There's also functionality that allows everyone participating in an event to get the latest information for the event as soon as it's available and gives more control over tournament scorekeeping to ensure the event runs smoothly. Players can log in using their Wizards Account, the same account they use to access things like Magic: THe Gathering Arena.

In the latest update, everyone participating in the event can use Companion to manage the event together more quickly and efficiently. A host still begins the event, but now each event comes with a unique code that looks like this:

Credit: Wizards of the Coast

The event's host can share the code with participants who are also using Companion, and those players simply "join" the event by entering the code into their app. Once the app validates the code, the player is automatically included in the event with no additional registration needed by the host. When the event begins, participants who use Companion will see their pairings in the app automatically, and they look like this:

Players will also be able to submit match results directly to the host instead of filling up a match slip. The app also lets you view how much time is left in the round, and you can also check your standings from your seat.

Credit: Wizards of the Coast

Home tournaments will be so much easier to manage for up to 16 players with this Companion app.

The announcement also noted that they're testing the features on Android because Apple restricts Open Beta users to only 10,000 users and they've almost reached that limit, but assured that the feature will be available in early 2020.

Here's an answer to a Frequently Asked Question they provided:

How do you report your match in Companion?

If both players are using Companion, either player can report the result of a match directly through the app. Simply score the result as a draw, (0-0 or 1-1), a win (2-0 or 2-1), or a loss (0-2 or 1-2). Once a player submits the result, it automatically displays to the opponent. If there are any disagreements about the results, either player can address it with the tournament organizer who can change the results.

The Magic: The Gathering Companion app is now available in iOS and Android devices in all languages that Magic is currently published in. For iOS users, note that you will need to download the TestFlight app first to access this Magic app.

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