Don Durito
Hero
There should just be a movie version of Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames. That would work well and would basically be a D&D movie in all but name.
WotC ICv2 Has A Theory That WotC Will Be Sold
- Thread starter Morrus
- Start date
GameWyrd
Explorer
I think Thorne's theory entirely forgets about the D&D computer games, that Hasbro's London Toy Fair presentation was almost entirely D&D and Magic: The Gathering or that they spent $4bn to buy Entertainment One and then promptly made D&D the priority project.
However, anything is possible. Hasbro might consider the this apex of D&D's value and therefore the time to sell for max cash.
However, anything is possible. Hasbro might consider the this apex of D&D's value and therefore the time to sell for max cash.
TheSword
Legend
So let me get this straight. Evidence that WOC could potentially be sold is...
1. WOC was only a small producer of third party supplements. (Despite now having managed the largest RPG in the world through three editions over 23 years making this moot.)
2. Hasbro isn’t big into RPG games. (Despite it owning the aforementioned largest RPG game in the world successful and to great profit for 22 years also making this moot.)
3. WOC has disputed two contracts with suppliers resulting in civil action. (because before every sale the seller wants negative Court publicity right? It’s also a bit ridiculous to suggest a negotiated settlement would be faster than a court case... that will almost certainly end in a negotiated settlement)
4. Hasbro moved successful board games from its RPG division to its board game division (That this is seen as evidence of anything other than common sense boggles my mind.)
4. A private equity firm bought a UK board game company that also makes rpgs. (That is a greater argument that Hasbro would be sold than WOC). There would always be a buyer for a successful company and there always has been. This doesn’t make a sale more likely now.
If you want me to believe that Hasbro would be selling a VERY popular brand then I’d like to see evidence that either they were in need of a lot of capital for something. Or that they had reason to believe that the D&D brand would stop being as successful ... and therefore would be at a good time to sell.
If anything, the release schedule and product strategy looks designed to milk the existing IP for a very very long time. They can be dining out on existing themes and product reinventions for The next 5-10 years without any sweat. I don’t believe they would be proceeding slow and steady if they were looking to sell. They would be ramping up to demonstrate potential for greater growth.
Hasbro isn’t some small family business looking to sell up and live rich. They have public shareholders and long term future to plan for. Then again idle speculation is what Internet forums do best. I’m not saying it will never be sold... just that this isn’t evidence of it.
If anything, the release schedule and product strategy looks designed to milk the existing IP for a very very long time. They can be dining out on existing themes and product reinventions for The next 5-10 years without any sweat. I don’t believe they would be proceeding slow and steady if they were looking to sell. They would be ramping up to demonstrate potential for greater growth.
1. WOC was only a small producer of third party supplements. (Despite now having managed the largest RPG in the world through three editions over 23 years making this moot.)
2. Hasbro isn’t big into RPG games. (Despite it owning the aforementioned largest RPG game in the world successful and to great profit for 22 years also making this moot.)
3. WOC has disputed two contracts with suppliers resulting in civil action. (because before every sale the seller wants negative Court publicity right? It’s also a bit ridiculous to suggest a negotiated settlement would be faster than a court case... that will almost certainly end in a negotiated settlement)
4. Hasbro moved successful board games from its RPG division to its board game division (That this is seen as evidence of anything other than common sense boggles my mind.)
4. A private equity firm bought a UK board game company that also makes rpgs. (That is a greater argument that Hasbro would be sold than WOC). There would always be a buyer for a successful company and there always has been. This doesn’t make a sale more likely now.
If you want me to believe that Hasbro would be selling a VERY popular brand then I’d like to see evidence that either they were in need of a lot of capital for something. Or that they had reason to believe that the D&D brand would stop being as successful ... and therefore would be at a good time to sell.
If anything, the release schedule and product strategy looks designed to milk the existing IP for a very very long time. They can be dining out on existing themes and product reinventions for The next 5-10 years without any sweat. I don’t believe they would be proceeding slow and steady if they were looking to sell. They would be ramping up to demonstrate potential for greater growth.
Hasbro isn’t some small family business looking to sell up and live rich. They have public shareholders and long term future to plan for. Then again idle speculation is what Internet forums do best. I’m not saying it will never be sold... just that this isn’t evidence of it.
If anything, the release schedule and product strategy looks designed to milk the existing IP for a very very long time. They can be dining out on existing themes and product reinventions for The next 5-10 years without any sweat. I don’t believe they would be proceeding slow and steady if they were looking to sell. They would be ramping up to demonstrate potential for greater growth.
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Iry
Hero
Not going to happen. Just keeping the IP around at a loss is still beneficial to Hasbro from a brand recognition point of view, and they are most definitely not suffering a loss. The threat of someone bigger buying Hasbro is essentially non-existent since Disney already owns them. And we know Disney likes to sit on IP like ancient dragons on their horde.
Now, a corporate restructuring with several big names being let go? That's a possibility.
Now, a corporate restructuring with several big names being let go? That's a possibility.
Don Durito
Hero
People have said for years that Hasbro want D&D for the IP.
When will see them actually doing something to leverage it?
When will see them actually doing something to leverage it?
Remathilis
Legend
If I'm not mistaken, there is a Netflix M:TG series, a potential D&D TV series, and a D&D movie all in the motion. They are several potential RPGs for MLP, Transformers and GI Joe also in the works. There are also video game productions like MTG Arena and Baldur's Gate 3. If Hasbro was looking to sell WotC, it is leaving a lot of irons in the fire while they do that. And with D&D having a moment and MTG a constant moneymaker, WotC isn't exactly a dog on Hasbro's finances.
Yeah, I don't see it happening.
Yeah, I don't see it happening.
Don Durito
Hero
There's been a new D&D movie coming for what...something like ten years now?
Lanefan
Victoria Rules
Kings of the Wyld but with access to the D&D IP portfolio could easily be nothing short of excellent!
If nothing else, imagine how amazing the soundtrack would be!
Agreed. The whole cloud castle is built on a) a couple of contractual disputes and b) Hasbro moving WotC's board games into Hasbro's board game division. That's the slimmest of slim reeds. There's just nothing here.
Lanefan
Victoria Rules
Hasbro bought WotC sometime around 2002-2003 I think, so more like 18 years.
This raises an interesting-if-unlikely possibility: rather than just WotC, are the contractual decks being cleared for Hasbro to be sold?
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