D&D 5E D&D Digital Plans To Be Revealed On February 21st

Brian D. Goldner, Chairman of the Board and CEO at Hasbro took part in the company's Quarter 4 2019 earnings call. This included several references to D&D.

• D&D grew again for the sixth year in a row.
• Streaming D&D content was up nearly 50% on last year.
• Substantial new (digital) gaming plans for D&D will be revealed on February 21st at Hasbro's Analyst Day
• Total games category grew by 6%, as D&D, MtG, and Monopoly bolstered declines elsewhere.
• Profit declined due to digital D&D and M:tG digital games investment.

"Well, good morning, and we did see very strong growth for Magic: The Gathering and increased growth for Dungeons & Dragons. "

"Magic: The Gathering revenues increased more than 30% in the year, behind double-digit growth in tabletop play and a strong first year for Magic: The Gathering Arena. Dungeons & Dragons revenues grew for the sixth straight year, and we are meaningfully investing in both brands to drive engaging storytelling, while developing new digital games with high margin profitable growth longer term. We look forward to sharing our 2020 new gaming plans for Magic and D&D on February 21. MONOPOLY had double-digit revenue growth and grew in each region with new themes and relevant entertainment tie-ins. We advanced our consumer products licensing business growing revenues double digits and expanding operating profit margin. We've broadened our licensed brand portfolio and expanded our reach with original live events that drive consumer engagement."

"In addition, for D&D, we did see our sixth straight year of growth. We are seeing about 150 million hours of content viewed on Twitch and YouTube, which is up nearly 50% year-on-year. In the first half of 2020, we are seeing a lot of new initiatives coming for the brand, but again I'm going to let Chris walk us through at at our Analyst Day, our plans for digital gaming, which are again substantial for D&D that begins in 2020."

"You'll also see great digital game development for D&D. And we will see you on February 21 to outline that."

"Our total games category grew 6% for the year, fueled by growth in Magic: The Gathering and MONOPOLY. Higher revenues from Dungeons & Dragons and several classic games titles did not offset declines in our Hasbro Gaming portfolio"

"Adjusted operating profit and profit margin declined as we invest in digital gaming initiatives including Magic: The Gathering Arena and future Magic and Dungeons & Dragons digital games."

"We delivered compelling gaming experiences, led by the work of our teams at Wizards of the Coast. Our positive results to date have us on plan to double Wizards of the Coast coast revenues over five years from 2018 to 2023."

You can read the full transcript at The Motley Fool.

• WotC acquired Tuque, a video games company last year which is working on a brand new D&D video game called D&D: Dark Alliance.
• There is also, of course, Baldur's Gate 3 coming soon.
• Archetype Entertainment is WotC own new video game studio headed by ex-Bioware staff.

 

[AriochQ]

Ok, what I want to know is how the heck did Monopoly have double-digit growth? Seriously???

I think Hasbro acquired the three orange properties, so a lot of people end up giving them money when they are released from jail...

 

[ART!]

I haven't looked at MTG in years, but I assume it still has a focus on lands, so really there should be a MTG Monopoly.

 

[CapnZapp]

WotC does all of those things, and has done since it acquired TSR. So clearly that's not the only way to produce a TTRPG..

They have never had much success though.

I'm sure Hasbro is frustrated by this, but I'm not.

 

[Morrus]

They have never had much success though.

I'm sure Hasbro is frustrated by this, but I'm not.

At producing RPGs? They have made the single most popular RPG on the planet.

They also have multiple successful boardgames, and the world's most popular trading card game.

If that's not much success, I don't know what is. The statement "The only way to produce a ttrpg is if it's publisher only exists in that sector, and not in any of the infinitely more lucrative sectors such as board games, action figures, movie merchandise or computer games" is demonstrably false.

 

[CapnZapp]

At producing RPGs? They have made the single most popular RPG on the planet.

They also have multiple successful boardgames, and the world's most popular trading card game.

If that's not much success, I don't know what is. The statement "The only way to produce a ttrpg is if it's publisher only exists in that sector, and not in any of the infinitely more lucrative sectors such as board games, action figures, movie merchandise or computer games" is demonstrably false.

I think you respond because you personally don't like what I'm saying, and that you're being too literal in an effort to avoid having to say "I disagree".

But never mind.

 

[Morrus]

I think you respond because you personally don't like what I'm saying, and that you're being too literal in an effort to avoid having to say "I disagree".

But never mind.

I don't really know what that means. I responded because what you said wasn't true.

 

[CapnZapp]

I don't really know what that means. I responded because what you said wasn't true.

I don't think it is wise to enter an argument with you, so: whatever!

Best Regards,
Zapp

 

[Morrus]

I don't think it is wise to enter an argument with you, so: whatever!

Don't be so rude, @CapnZapp. If you can't be polite, don't post.

 

[Retreater]

Didn't they previously mention making a D&D esports league?

 

[CapnZapp]

Don't be so rude, @CapnZapp. If you can't be polite, don't post.

I mean that it has never been good news for us ttrpg:ers when our publishers have dipped their toes in other markets. The main reason for this is that there's much more money to be made in those other markets (almost even not knowing which exact markets we're discussing). In other words, ttrpg has historically been an exceedingly non-profitable market.

So every time the main result of that "branching out" has been that all focus has been shifted away from the ttrpg product, with a bad result for those of us that mostly care about the ttrpg hobby (and not the brand, the IP, the companies or anything else).

Of course, in rather many instances this hasn't been because the company has been particularly successful. In many instances the far-greater profits of greener pastures has instead acted mostly as a lure - with little experience outside ttrpgs the companies have failed spectactularly. Again, with bad results for us who never wanted computer aids or board game implementations; just more supplements for our ttrpgs.

And no, WotC is not an exception. I maintain that the flaws of 5E are rooted in how Hasbro mostly care about the D&D brand for its potential outside ttrpgs.

The fact WotC has produced "board games, action figures, movie merchandise or computer games" only means they're a MUCH larger outfit than every other ttrpg publisher; that they can soak losses unlike any other.

While it does mean those ventures haven't managed to tank our D&D publisher, it doesn't mean it's been good for us. (And it nearly did tank the brank during the 4E era!)

If these future digital plans work out, that would more be the exception that defines the rule, than evidence I'm wrong: 99.9% of ttrpg outfits are still so small any branching out will either derail their ttrpg plans or derail the entire company.

Examples are too many to mention: WW/CCP; TSR, FFG, Chaosium, a boatload of now-obscure names, the once-top Swedish name, and so on, and so on...

Have a nice day,
Zapp