D&D General Dan Rawson Named New Head Of D&D

Hasbro has announced a former Microsoft digital commerce is the new senior vice president in charge of Dungeons & Dragons. Dan Rawson was the COO of Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Hasbro also hired Cynthia Williams earlier this year; she too, came from Microsoft. Of Rawson, she said "We couldn’t be bringing on Dan at a better time. With the acquisition of D&D Beyond earlier this year, the digital capabilities and opportunities for Dungeons & Dragons are accelerating faster than ever. I am excited to partner with Dan to explore the global potential of the brand while maintaining Hasbro’s core value as a player-first company.”

Rawson himself says that "Leading D&D is the realization of a childhood dream. I’m excited to work with Cynthia once again, and I’m thrilled to work with a talented team to expand the global reach of D&D, a game I grew up with and now play with my own kids.”

Interestingly, Ray Wininger -- who has been running D&D for the last couple of years -- has removed mention of WotC and Hasbro from his Twitter bio.

 

[bedir than]

Nothing in these quotes suggests D&D is currently making $100 million.

We know digital gaming didn't make 100 from the end of 2021 report.
We know know magic was below 1 bill from the statement in the prepare remarks specifically stating last 12 months and not last fiscal year.
When you take 1.29 billion and subtract 999 million (max MtG) and 99 (max digital gaming) you definitely get more than 100 million.

Links to all the prepared remarks are here
D&D 5E - Hasbro Investor Day shows Possible D&D Movie miniatures and possibly other tie ins.

 

[Haplo781]

We know digital gaming didn't make 100 from the end of 2021 report.
We know know magic was below 1 bill from the statement in the prepare remarks specifically stating last 12 months and not last fiscal year.
When you take 1.29 billion and subtract 999 million (max MtG) and 99 (max digital gaming) you definitely get more than 100 million.

WotC has other products, and if D&D had broken 100 million they would have made a big deal about it.

 

[bedir than]

WotC has other products, and if D&D had broken 100 million they would have made a big deal about it.

They just said, in the quotes you deny existing, that within five years D&D will double its revenue and be a billion dollar brand.

They did make a big deal of it. They made a bigger deal of D&D than every brand except magic. It's all over the prepared remarks.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Monetization is going to be the way forward for D&D. Today it's primarily DMs who are spending money on the game, and player spending on dice and miniatures mostly goes to 3rd parties rather than WotC. WotC is going to try hard to find new ways to extract money from player's wallets and credit cards.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Monetization is going to be the way forward for D&D. Today it's primarily DMs who are spending money on the game, and player spending on dice and miniatures mostly goes to 3rd parties rather than WotC. WotC is going to try hard to find new ways to extract money from player's wallets and credit cards.

micro transactions... "Your wizard can recharge that spell slot for $0.99"

I hope I am joking

 

[Cadence]

They just said, in the quotes you deny existing, that within five years D&D will double its revenue and be a billion dollar brand.

They did make a big deal of it. They made a bigger deal of D&D than every brand except magic. It's all over the prepared remarks.

I saw the Dungeons and Dragons will be a franchise brand, and that franchise brands must have a plan to get to $500 million or greater revenue by 2027 and a 20% profit margin. (in Deb Thomas's statement).

Also that Hasbro Pulse, new digital games, and live services like D&D Beyond combined will drive over $1 billion in profit revenue. (in Chris Cocks's statement)

I didn't find the D&D doubling to a billion in 5 years -- where should I look for that one?

 

[Imaro]

micro transactions... "Your wizard can recharge that spell slot for $0.99"

I hope I am joking

I actually think you're close. I think WotC buying DnD Beyond... and the announced VTT are geared to give WotC a relatively steady income stream that is a much more stable and consistent source than book sales... And that can be leveraged to sell digital assets. In the same way Fortnite, Destiny 2, and so on sell skins for weapons, armor, vehicles, etc. Relatively cheap assets that can be overlaid on digital miniatures (which will also be a source of income). Tile sets, models, etc. I think online gaming has grown enough (probably boosted by the pandemic) that this is a sustainable business model and may allow them to hit numbers beyond anything D&D has seen before. My hope is that the game in turn doesn't veer towards making these things necessary to play in order to drive more profit...

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I actually think you're close.

oh god that was a joke...

I think WotC buying DnD Beyond... and the announced VTT are geared to give WotC a relatively steady income stream that is a much more stable and consistent source than book sales... And that can be leveraged to sell digital assets.

yeah I assume buying digital minis will be a thing. buying digital battle maps and pregenerated adventures (I bought curse of strahd on roll20)

In the same way Fortnite, Destiny 2, and so on sell skins for weapons, armor, vehicles, etc. Relatively cheap assets that can be overlaid on digital miniatures (which will also be a source of income).

"Hey I got a holy avenger, I can use my base mini or upgrade it for $0.33 to have the holy avenger look loaded on it"

My hope is that the game in turn doesn't veer towards making these things necessary to play in order to drive more profit...

back in 3.5 people joked about 4e (pre announcment) being a collectable rules game "Man I opened another pack and got another grapple and some spells, but I need the HD rules and they are secret rares... oh well I have to buy more packs" I hope that this fear is as unfounded as that one...

fingers crossed

 

[DarkCrisis]

Finally D&D is back in the hands of gamers.

 

[Zaukrie]

Looks like they are partnering with Lego......