Project Sigil 90% Of D&D’s Project Sigil Team Laid Off

Reports are coming in of a swathe of layoffs at Wizards of the Coast, constituting 90% of the team of the new Project Sigil virtual tabletop platform. In all, over 30 people have been laid off, leaving a team of around 3 people.

Sigil is still in beta, only recently made public three weeks ago. Recent reports indicated that the scope of the project was seemingly being cut back.

WotC’s Andy Collins—who has worked on multiple editions of D&D and other WotC TTRPGs going back to 1996—reported via LinkedIn that he was one of those laid off. He indicated that the small team left behind would continue to work on the project.

More news as it comes in.

 

[Hussar]

If they're going to keep it up and let people play around with what's there, sure. But if they're just saying, "Here, you can play with this for a few weeks, then it's going to disappear, and we're going to pretend it never existed"? That seems bizarre to me.

I imagine, at a guess, this was the last gasp attempt for people to save their jobs. Send out what they had completed to this point, see if it actually has any love. It apparently didn't, and thus, it dies with a whimper.

 

[Osgood]

Given how long they’ve been hyping it, I’m a little surprised the pulled the plug this quickly after launching it. But, I think it was inevitable. I didn’t spent a whole lot if time playing around with it (my computer isn’t a beast), but it seemed like it would take a ton if prep time to use. Conversely, I’ve used Maps a few times, and it it’s pretty great—simple, easy to use, and it has all the features I would want from a VTT… I’ve actually used it at a few in person games because it’s convenient. Maybe the feedback has shown that only one of their VTTs is really catching people’s interest.

 

[MerricB]

I’m miffed. Imagine if they spent that on the D&D creators or even DnDBeyond itself. Many people told them a 3D vtt was going to have low interest.

Many people told Gary Gygax that D&D would have low interest. (e.g. Avalon Hill).

 

[MerricB]

Maybe the feedback has shown that only one of their VTTs is really catching people’s interest.

I would not be at all surprised if that is the case.

 

[Scribe]

Wizards gonna Wizards.

Hope the folks land somewhere that cares for their staff.

 

[overgeeked]

I admit, this caught me by surprise, though considering WotC's recent track record I suppose I shouldn't be.

They usually do it right before Christmas, so this is a surprise.

 

[overgeeked]

Given how long they’ve been hyping it, I’m a little surprised the pulled the plug this quickly after launching it. But, I think it was inevitable. I didn’t spent a whole lot if time playing around with it (my computer isn’t a beast), but it seemed like it would take a ton if prep time to use. Conversely, I’ve used Maps a few times, and it it’s pretty great—simple, easy to use, and it has all the features I would want from a VTT… I’ve actually used it at a few in person games because it’s convenient. Maybe the feedback has shown that only one of their VTTs is really catching people’s interest.

Or, as you say, not that many people had the hardware to run the thing. If you're going to require a near-top-of-the-line gaming rig to run the thing, you shouldn't be surprised that your audience is small.

 

[Clint_L]

So, here's the thing: the 2d VTT, Maps, works really well, and is already integrated with most of their books, with quite a significant user base. So in Sigil, they have been investing a ton of money...to kind of compete with themselves. Maps must cost a fraction of Sigil to build and maintain so...why not dedicate the efforts there, especially if feedback is showing that there just isn't the interest in a 3d VTT to take it beyond the range of a boutique product.

If Sigil is dead, expect to see WotC announce 2d map making features (dungeon "tiles", etc.) to Maps. But it is already a pretty robust product. I imported a bespoke map into for the first time a few weeks ago, and was shocked at how simple it was. If I can do it quickly and easily, anyone can.

This sucks for the folks on that team, though - I hope they are all able to quickly find even better work.

 

[mamba]

Seems like a weird time to fire 90% of your staff just weeks after launch but I'm not really sure how the video game/programing industry works.

If this were the full release I could see them getting rid of some staff, retain some for maintenance and additional assets, but this timing is off to me

 

[mamba]

Why release it at all if they're just going to shut it down?

maybe the lack of interest put it out of its misery, and for that they needed to release it first