I can see what Hasbro is trying to do. Yeah, they want to create a virtual D&D experience that they can monetize.
But I don’t share his pessimism. They can try to create that VTT experience, but it will be hard to get parents onboard with a hobby that costs $30/month per person.
I’m new to the D&D community because my oldest joined a club at school. I definitely won’t pay that for my kids, nor would they have access to loot boxes or other micro transactions.
And if Hasbro’s execs think that they have a market with younger players, they’re smoking something really good.
They’d have to offer an exceptional value to justify that price for any player of any age. And a paid 3D-VTT subscription with micro transactions is not a value at any level.
So to put this in perspective. Maybe.
IIRC, the $30 was from a
faked document. Now, I haven't read all the threads, and I am
certainly not going to watch all the stupid youtube videos, but I don't think that there has ever been an actual, non-fake source for that? (Correct me if I'm wrong).
In terms of subscriptions, I think of the Playstation.
PS Plus Essential is $60/year.
PS Plus Extra is $100/year.
PS Plus Premium is $120/year.
Given that the top level of PS Plus Premium is the top level tier, I find it ... difficult ... to understand how they would be charging a lot
more than this.
OTOH, I also know that a lot of kids have versions of these various plans- just like, "How can they afford a cell phone," it's something that they ask for and receive, either by paying it for themselves or getting it as a gift.