So, I guess we're doing This again.
It was 2007.
A new edition was announced. Shortly after, an open playtest began, and consumer feedback was measured by online surveys. The feedback was mostly positive, but Hasbro was frustrated with the success of third-party publishing companies, and with the proliferation of electronic copies of their books on file-sharing networks. So, buoyed by the success of their customer satisfaction surveys, they announced they were ending the Open Gaming License. There was a massive outcry, and the popularity of their new edition rapidly diminished. They ended up publishing the new edition a year later under a different gaming license, but left the OGL alone as a peace offering. The new edition failed to meet margins, and the D&D brand fell out of 1st place in the TTRPG market for the first time ever.
Now it's 2023.
A new edition has been announced. Shortly after, an open playtest began, and consumer feedback is being measured by online surveys. The feedback is mostly positive, but Hasbro is frustrated with the success of third-party publishing companies, and with the proliferation of electronic copies of their books on VTT platforms. So, buoyed by the success of their customer satisfaction surveys, they announce they are ending the Open Gaming License. There is a massive outcry, and the popularity of their new edition rapidly diminishes.
So what happens next? Well, if history is any indicator:
They will publish the new edition under a different gaming license, but leave the OGL alone as a peace offering. The new edition will fail to meet margins, and the D&D brand will fall out of 1st place in the TTRPG market for the second time.