MetaZoo’s Future: Mobile App Possibilities, Magazine Return, and Competitive Growth

Casters,

The final stretch of this week’s MetaZoo Monday touched on where the brand is heading—both in terms of digital possibilities and how the team envisions competitive growth.

An Online Mobile App?

The mobile app question came from a familiar face: MacDeezyTCG, MetaZoo News’ newest columnist, who recently published a piece arguing that the game should move toward a digital client. Charlie responded thoughtfully:

Who wouldn’t love a mobile app? But overall, while the idea of a digital client or interactive app is extremely exciting and something that I would personally love, it’s not a quick thing that we would throw together.

- Charlie Hurlocker

Charlie acknowledged the appeal but tempered expectations. Building an app for a trading card game isn’t just about digital play—it also demands ongoing development and long-term maintenance.

It would have to have functionality that reinforces the metagames of the product and be something that we are confident in our ability to maintain and update regularly. Which is a massive undertaking. I personally think that having an app that doesn’t live up is significantly worse than not having an app yet.

- Charlie Hurlocker

This answer underscored the central tension highlighted in MacDeezy’s article: while demand for a digital version of MetaZoo is growing, execution must come before excitement. A poorly supported app could damage the brand more than strengthen it.

Additionally, estimates for creating a mobile card game range anywhere from $15,000 for a barebones game to $100,000 for a fully polished online multiplayer experience.

Return of the MetaZoo Magazine?

Fans also asked if the MetaZoo magazine might return.

I’d love to! Both Card Pro on its own with MZ inside and a MZ mag. It’s not a focus on the immediate horizon as we have other SKUs that we want to explore first, but I’d love to see it return. I’ve always been a sucker for a good magazine

- Charlie Hurlocker

Here, Charlie left the door open. While not a near-term priority, media like a magazine still sits in the realm of possibilities once product priorities are stabilized. Though having a new magazine every set/expansion would be great to help introduce the theme and new cards to MetaZoo fans.

High Dollar Tournaments

Another discussion revolved around whether higher-dollar tournament prizes—$500 or $1,000 cash pools at conventions—might be used to lure more competitive players.

My general thought process on any campaign where it’s like, ‘We will pay you this much money to like our thing’ is that the thing underneath is likely just not sufficiently compelling.

- Charlie Hurlocker

Charlie argued that the strength of the game itself should drive player interest, not prize money.

Within our demos, we have one of the highest conversion rates I have ever seen in products and it blows a lot of baseline expectations you might have for typical tabletop demoing out of the water.

- Charlie Hurlocker

His point highlighted that demos are already working as intended. Rather than buying attention with prize pools, the focus is on showcasing the gameplay experience to new players and letting word-of-mouth build momentum. [Editors Note: As someone who has worked at many conventions, I have seen this in action. After completing a learn to play customers buy boxes, decks and playmats in droves.]

Long-Term Longevity & The Future of Zoo

Charlie closed the night with a broader reflection on the company’s long-term commitment.

This is not a short project. We aren’t throwing this into the market to see if there are outsized returns and then shutting everything down if things get tough… We are still talking in years, not days, about everything that we are creating. When I look at the difference in quality between Base and TT, I get excited. And I feel like that growth has continued into the additional lines we’ve already developed for the future. I’m here for it. Whatever twists and turns, whatever design and redesign, whatever development lift it takes. We won’t stop. We’re just going to keep creating MetaZoo’s world of cryptid art and stories and cards. Because that’s what it’s really about.

- Charlie Hurlocker

The message was clear: MetaZoo is built for the long haul. Growth will be steady, intentional, and focused on quality—whether in digital spaces, physical products, or organized play. This is a statement that the community needed to hear. With so much uncertainty in the TCG space along with the brand's history, a reassuring voice from the top of MetaTwo is a nice end to this week's edition of MetaZoo Monday.

By addressing the mobile app conversation directly, especially when raised by a community columnist now writing for MetaZoo News, Churlocker gave fans insight into both the excitement and the caution surrounding digital play. Coupled with commentary on magazines, tournaments, and long-term strategy, this MetaZoo Monday reinforced that the game is designed to evolve carefully over years, not chase quick wins.