WotC Hasbro's CEO Reports OGL-Related D&D Beyond Cancellations Had Minimal Impact

Hasbro held a quarterly earnings call recently in which CEO Chris Cocks (who formerly ran WotC before being promoted) indicated that the OGL controversy had a "comparatively minor" impact on D&D's revenue due to D&D Beyond subscription cancellations. He also noted that D&D grew by 20% in 2022 (Magic: the Gathering revenues grew by an astonishing 40% in Quarter 4!)

WotC as a whole was up 22% in Q4 2022.

Lastly, on D&D, we misfired on updating our Open Gaming License, a key vehicle for creators to share or commercialize their D&D inspired content. Our best practice is to work collaboratively with our community, gather feedback, and build experiences that inspire players and creators alike - it's how we make our games among the best in the industry. We have since course corrected and are delivering a strong outcome for the community and game.

 

[Oofta]

I think it's helpful for people who consider this an ongoing "moral" issue to understand the concepts of remote versus proximate cooperation, and material versus formal cooperation. Is buying a Wizards of the Coast product participation in any activity their employees do? Only remotely and materially, which is basically not at all. I'm going to the grocery store layer today, and will be buying a bunch of stuff that is probsvly more "morally compromised" than the next D&D book, and I'm fine with that.

Anybody posting on this forum is using a device that is incredibly morally compromised. Yet, we still do it and don't think twice about it.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I don't know how it will work, but that appears to be their primary monetizing strategy. It will largely depend on where the paywall begins and ends. But sure, if it's only cosmetics, it won't be a big deal, but how can you be sure it will end there?

How can you assume this when it’s never come up. The amount of fear mongering about currently imaginary micro transactions has been ridiculous.

 

[Velderan]

How can you assume this when it’s never come up. The amount of fear mongering about currently imaginary micro transactions has been ridiculous.

Especially when you look at what they're currently offering for microtransactions on DDB. Individual items are a bit overpriced IMO but it's nothing like the horribly predatory stuff you see in stuff like mobile games.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Especially when you look at what they're currently offering for microtransactions on DDB. Individual items are a bit overpriced IMO but it's nothing like the horribly predatory stuff you see in stuff like mobile games.

It also does not matter if they are a tad overpriced as you can’t pay more than the book is worth.

 

[cranberry]

How can you assume this when it’s never come up. The amount of fear mongering about currently imaginary micro transactions has been ridiculous.

Talk of micro transactions has never come up? "Recurrent spending environment" doesn't in any way suggest micro transactions?

So if micro transactions aren't going to happen, how are they planning on increasing revenues to solve the under-monetization issue?

Given that Williams and Fields are both from the video gaming industry, I'd say it's pretty likely that micro transactions will be a big part of the monetization strategy.

 

[cranberry]

Especially when you look at what they're currently offering for microtransactions on DDB. Individual items are a bit overpriced IMO but it's nothing like the horribly predatory stuff you see in stuff like mobile games.

Just because they do things a certain way now, doesn't mean they won't change how things are done in the future.

 

[LordEntrails]

If you have to cite every paragraph in a 250 page document ...

That's not how citing something with the Creative Commons works. You have no need to detail what was from CC, just that somethings were. Given that you have to link to the source, any simple text compare will reveal what was sourced and what wasn't. No need to do it manually.

 

[Loren the GM]

That's not how citing something with the Creative Commons works. You have no need to detail what was from CC, just that somethings were. Given that you have to link to the source, any simple text compare will reveal what was sourced and what wasn't. No need to do it manually.

Unless you are significantly modifying the previous work, and need to clarify what is CC from that previous source. And if you are mixing various CC licenses in your work, it gets even more complicated.

 

[Parmandur]

Unless you are significantly modifying the previous work, and need to clarify what is CC from that previous source. And if you are mixing various CC licenses in your work, it gets even more complicated.

Not so much.

 

[Oofta]

Talk of micro transactions has never come up? "Recurrent spending environment" doesn't in any way suggest micro transactions?

Explain exactly what micro transactions could look like, because no one ever has.

So if micro transactions aren't going to happen, how are they planning on increasing revenues to solve the under-monetization issue?

Movies, TV, video games, VTT, toys, maybe even wacky ideas like a professional DM service. I wouldn't be surprised if they came out with a generator for 3D prints or bought an existing company.

Given that Williams and Fields are both from the video gaming industry, I'd say it's pretty likely that micro transactions will be a big part of the monetization strategy.

How? You can buy cool dice on DDB now. You can buy bits and pieces of books as well. You will never, ever, be able to buy that +1 Amulet of Awesome and be able to use it for your PC in any game I can imagine.

You can't just say "microtransactions" and expect people to give a fig unless you can explain why or how it could be done.