Peter Adkison founds Wizards of the Coast (1990) For its first few years, the company operates out of Peter's basement in Seattle, Washington.

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1991
Richard Garfield begins work on a unique new game concept, the foundations of Magic: The Gathering
His idea conflates playing cards and trading cards: players compete with decks they've built by selecting cards from a larger pool.

1993
Magic: The Gathering debuts at Origins Game Fair
The entire print run sells out within a month, and gaming culture is altered forever.

1995
Magic: The Gathering reaches 1 billion cards sold
Twelve expansion sets are released in the first fourteen months alone. Over sixty more have followed.

1996
The first Magic Pro Tour is held in 1996
Players qualified by calling a hotline. Today, tens of thousands battle for one of about 400 berths.

1997
Wizards purchases TSR, publisher of Dungeons & Dragons
Many employees of the legendary company moved to the Seattle area to begin work on the third edition of D&D.

1999
Hasbro acquires Wizards of the Coast
Magic and D&D take their place among the world's most beloved and recognizable entertainment brands, sharing a stable with the likes of My Little Pony and Monopoly.

2002
Duel Masters Trading Card Game debuts in Japan
The game immediately becomes one of Japan's premier trading card games, and it continues to grow.

2002
Magic Online debuts
The game’s four successful versions have connected players on an unprecedented scale, with more than 10,000,000 matches played since Version III alone.

2003
Avalon Hill joins the Wizards of the Coast brand family
Under Wizards’ guidance, new games like Betrayal at House on the Hill join the ranks of classic strategy games like Risk and Axis & Allies.

2008
Magic: The Gathering publishes its 10,000th unique card
Approximately 1,000 cards are added every year across four expansion sets and other releases.

2014
The 5th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons is released
The release of Tyranny of Dragons, the first major storyline for the new edition, marks the game's 40th anniversary, sparking a surge in popularity among fans from young first-time players to veteran Hollywood celebrities.

2015
Magic: The Gathering reaches 20 million players worldwide
For some players, it’s a way of having fun with friends. For others, it’s a way of life.