New Extended Format

[RevRifts]

Check out the changes!
http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/95b

That's right no more hexmage/depths, no more dredge, no more hypergenesis, no more thopter combo.
This is awesome! 
People who have only played a couple of years can now safely get into extended without spending tons on Rav lands, chrome moxes, etc.
Welcome back Faeries, 5CC, Rock, and who knows what else.
Now Extended will be playable for more people and feel nostalgic at the same time.
This is an awesome announcement!

You'll agree once the shock wears off.

[gryfalia]

Basically Extended is now Standard +

Which isn't bad per se, but I'm not sure it's going to help get Extended popular again..  Also note the change to Legacy.

Announcement Date: June 18, 2010
Effective Date: July 1, 2010
Magic Online Effective Date: July 14, 2010 (after the scheduled downtime)

Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules Change: Extended
On July 1, 2010, the following sets will leave the Extended format: Ninth Edition, Mirrodin, Darksteel, Fifth Dawn, Champions of Kamigawa, Betrayers of Kamigawa, Saviors of Kamigawa, Ravnica: City of Guilds, Guildpact, Dissension, and Coldsnap. From that point forward, the Extended format will include approximately four years of Magic sets instead of seven.

At that time, the following sets will be legal in the Extended format: Time Spiral, Planar Chaos, Future Sight, Tenth Edition, Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor, Eventide, Shards of Alara, Conflux, Alara Reborn, Magic 2010, Zendikar, Worldwake, and Rise of the Eldrazi.

With the upcoming release of Scars of Mirrodin, the following sets will leave the Extended format: Time Spiral, Planar Chaos, Future Sight, and Tenth Edition. One year's worth of releases will leave Extended with every subsequent fall Magic set.

Extended
Sword of the Meek is banned.
Hypergenesis is banned.

Note: The four cards previously on the banned list (?ther Vial, Disciple of the Vault, Sensei's Divining Top, and Skullclamp) are in sets that are no longer in the Extended format.

Legacy
Mystical Tutor is banned.
Grim Monolith is no longer banned.
Illusionary Mask is no longer banned.

Zendikar Block Constructed, Standard, Vintage
No changes

[pt3]

After a few minutes to take this all in, I agree that this is a healthy shift to the format.  It will be reminiscent of last year's standard at pre-Lorwyn rotation where the format will be largely defined by Faeries, Reflecting pool decks, and Jund variants (+Ram gang and Finks), but there will still be lots of room to experiment as Reveillark decks, Elf combo, and many other strategies have a large and viable pool.  This is a better world to live in than one where Zoo and Depths are just tweaking lists to beat each other and whatever combo comes up to prey on them.