May 2025 Update: Sanibel and the Hobby
In this update:
Game news: A new game! Wingspan expansion progress!
Upcoming events: Canada, the Smithsonian, and Gen Con
Miscellaneous media
Critter of the month(s): Horseshoe crabs
Game news
Sanibel
My next game was just announced! Sanibel is a game about walking down the beach collecting seashells. There’s a time track mechanism (Tokaido style) for picking up tiles from a shared beach, then a personal puzzle of placing the tiles that you pick up to score the most points.
I got to actually go to Sanibel Island to make this trailer:
The game won’t be available for purchase until early 2026 but we’ll have copies available for a sneak peek at Gen Con.
Wingspan
I’m finally finished with the design work for the next Wingspan expansion! Thanks for your patience. It’s going to be beautiful, and the latest round of playtesters all loved the twist it adds. But that’s all I’ll say for now.
Upcoming events
The Hobby
I’ve mentioned before that I’m one of many people in the boardgame documentary The Hobby: Tales from the Tabletop. They’re doing a limited theatrical release in Canada first and I’m going to do a little tour with the director! I don’t have links for you yet but if you’re in one of these cities save the date for a game night and screening:
June 17-18: Toronto
June 20-21: Edmonton (Metro Cinema)
June 22-23: Vancouver
Other Events
May 31: I’m on a games panel at my local library
June 5: Finspan at the Smithsonian! I’m not speaking but I’ll be there.
July 31-Aug 3: I’ll be a Guest of Honor at Gen Con. Some places to see me:
I haven’t worked out my booth schedule yet but I’ll send another email with it.
Thursday 8pm: AEG Birthday party (just as an attendee)
Saturday 2:30pm: Nature Systems Game Design
Sunday 2pm: Span-Span-Span panel
Miscellaneous media
Tariffs: The wildly unpredictable and draconian tariffs on goods from China are devastating the board game industry, which does not have US-based manufacturing options. Wingspan publisher Stonemaier Games is suing the government: see Jamey on CNN or read his blog post. See also this TTGDA and GAMA Guide to Tariffs.
Wingspan was in The Onion.
My new favorite daily puzzle is Birdie.
My dad died of cancer in February and I had the bittersweet experience of co-writing his obituary with him. He did some pretty cool stuff so I thought I’d share it here.
Critter of the month: Horseshoe crabs
In May and June, horseshoe crabs come up into the Delaware Bay to spawn under the full moon. We caught the spectacle on Slaughter Beach. Not pictured are the massive flocks of birds that time their migration to coincide with this, so they can feast on the eggs. Highly recommend making a night of it if you ever get the chance.
Amid everyday chaos, may you find comfort in cycles that have been happening for 400 million years —
❤️
Elizabeth