Wizards of the Coast has taken control of the Commander format for Magic: The Gathering, following significant backlash from recent bans.

The controversy began when the Commander Rules Committee banned four major cards—Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu, Winged Wisdom—leading to a tumultuous reaction from the community.

Wizards described the week surrounding the bans as 'tumultuous,' highlighting that managing Commander has become too challenging for part-time volunteers.

The company condemned the harassment faced by the Rules Committee members, emphasizing that no one should feel unsafe for supporting the game.

Committee member Jim Lapage expressed devastation over the decision to transfer management and confirmed he reported the harassment to Wizards.

The decision to shift management was announced by both the Commander Rules Committee and Wizards of the Coast in separate statements.

Moving forward, the Magic: The Gathering game design team will oversee management and balance changes for the Commander format.

Wizards stated that the Rules Committee will still be involved in the format's governance, with plans for a more objective approach to deck power levels.

As part of the transition, Wizards is developing a new casual power level descriptor for Commander decks to help players communicate expected card strengths.

Wizards has established a Discord community for players and scheduled a livestream to discuss the future of the format.

The company has called for community patience as they navigate this transition in management.

The Commander format, which originated in the late 1990s and was managed independently for nearly 20 years, is now entering a new era under Wizards' oversight.