James Ohlen Shifts From Archetype Entertainment Head to Creative Consultant for Tabletop RPGs at Wizards

Ohlen will continue to work on tabletop RPGs for Wizards of the Coast.
1766159646316.png


James Ohlen is "shifting his focus" to tabletop RPGs once more after choosing to step down from Archetype Entertainment ahead of the studio's release of its first game Exodus. This week, Wizards of the Coast announced the move, with Ohlen leaving his post as lead of Archetype Entertainment and Blizzard veteran Paul Della Bitta stepping in to lead Wizards' Digital Ventures arm. Ohlen joined Wizards of the Coast back in 2019 to lead up Archetype Entertainment, a new internal games studio tasked with designing AAA games based on new IPs. Their first product, Exodus, is due out for release in 2027. According to a statement provided to GamesIndustry.biz, Ohlen felt that his work on Exodus was complete and that the final polishing and tuning were in "great hands" with the remaining team.

What's interesting about Ohlen's departure is that he will remain employed at Wizards as a creative consultant and that he is "shifting his creative focus" to TTRPGs. Shortly after departing Bioware, Ohlen launched Arcanum Worlds, a tabletop RPG studio publishing third-party 5E material. Ohlen developed a 5E-version of Exodus for Wizards and also released several DMs Guild supplements while employed with Wizards. Whether this means that Ohlen will have a bigger role on Dungeons & Dragons material in the future or if he'll continue to release his own brand of 5E material with a soft connection to Wizards remains to be seen.
 
Click to expand...

log in or register to remove this ad

Christian Hoffer
Christian Hoffer

Christian Hoffer

Christian Hoffer is a veteran tabletop journalist and Forever DM. His non-tabletop hobbies include Pokemon, Ohio sports, and building miniatures.
Christian Hoffer said:
Reading the original Bloomberg report, it appears that he asked to shift his focus to tabletop gaming. It's under paywall, so I didn't have access to it initially.
Click to expand...
It's really bizarre. With Hasbro's emphasis on video games, taken a video game designer like Ohlen from video games and into the theoretically less lucrative TTRPG space is really weird! Hasbro has several video game projects (especially BG4, give his work on BG) ... in what world would you not want him working on one of those?
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Alphastream said:
It's really bizarre. With Hasbro's emphasis on video games, taken a video game designer like Ohlen from video games and into the theoretically less lucrative TTRPG space is really weird! Hasbro has several video game projects (especially BG4, give his work on BG) ... in what world would you not want him working on one of those?
Click to expand...
because he's tired?

He hasn't had a year not working on video games since 1998
 


Alphastream said:
It's really bizarre. With Hasbro's emphasis on video games, taken a video game designer like Ohlen from video games and into the theoretically less lucrative TTRPG space is really weird! Hasbro has several video game projects (especially BG4, give his work on BG) ... in what world would you not want him working on one of those?
Click to expand...
From what it sounds like, he wanted to take a step back from video games and focus more on TTRPGs. Wizards seems keen on keeping him in the fold - they let him release that DMs Guild content and the Exodus TTRPG, so it appears they’re trading off him being involved in a day to day capacity in exchange for having access to his creativity when needed.
 

Nicholas Reed said:
What wonderful news! Odyssey of the Dragonlords is phenomenal, and I really love Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy and Chains of Asmodeus! I'm excited to see what comes down the pipeline!!!
Click to expand...
Yes all three are good as is Raiders of the Serpent Sea. He thinks big and comes up with imaginative stuff. Particularly impressive quality as 3rd party work. There is a reason Baldurs Gate was number 3. Because he did such a good job on the first two that a sequel was worth it.
 


Reynard said:
It is interesting that he is "only" a consultant. I wonder what he will be doing "full time" or if he is semi-retired.
Click to expand...
My understanding is that Hasbro lured him oit of semi-retirement to build Archetype with a boatload of money. Could be he just wants to ride off into the Sunset...we'll see somewhat shortly if that is from satisfaction with what he built or washing his hands.
 

Parmandur said:
My understanding is that Hasbro lured him oit of semi-retirement to build Archetype with a boatload of money. Could be he just wants to ride off into the Sunset...we'll see somewhat shortly if that is from satisfaction with what he built or washing his hands.
Click to expand...
Yup. Ohlen already "retired" from video games in 2018 to found Arcanum Worlds, his TTRPG company (first product, Odyssey of the Dragonlords). WotC lured him back in with a sweet deal to head Archetype.

It could be simply that Ohlen is really ready to retire from video games this time . . . but I am curious how his new TTRPG consultant job with WotC will pair with his work with Arcanum Worlds.

I mean, certainly, weird things could be going on over at WotC, it wouldn't be the first time . . . but I'm going to assume Ohlen and WotC are being straight with us until there's actually evidence otherwise.
 

Dire Bare said:
Yup. Ohlen already "retired" from video games in 2018 to found Arcanum Worlds, his TTRPG company (first product, Odyssey of the Dragonlords). WotC lured him back in with a sweet deal to head Archetype.

It could be simply that Ohlen is really ready to retire from video games this time . . . but I am curious how his new TTRPG consultant job with WotC will pair with his work with Arcanum Worlds.

I mean, certainly, weird things could be going on over at WotC, it wouldn't be the first time . . . but I'm going to assume Ohlen and WotC are being straight with us until there's actually evidence otherwise.
Click to expand...
Yeah, lots of unknown factors at this point. It is somewhat strange for someone in this position in the video game industry to leave before a game is finalized, but life happens that way. Still hopeful the game is at least decent, but time shall tell.
 

Alphastream said:
It's really bizarre. With Hasbro's emphasis on video games, taken a video game designer like Ohlen from video games and into the theoretically less lucrative TTRPG space is really weird! Hasbro has several video game projects (especially BG4, give his work on BG) ... in what world would you not want him working on one of those?
Click to expand...
I very much doubt he was "taken" anywhere. Ohlen has power, he doesn't need the job, he can go pretty much were he likes, or just walk.
 

Similar Threads

Christian Hoffer
Wizards of the Coast Releases Exodus TTRPG
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
131
Views
47K
Gozzy
Gozzy
Christian Hoffer
Wizards of the Coast's Archetype Entertainment to Publish Exodus TTRPG Based on Upcoming Exodus Video Game
27 28 29 30 31
Replies
302
Views
48K
LuisCarlos17f
LuisCarlos17f
Parmandur
WotC Reveal Exodus, a New Video Game from the Decelopers of Mass Effect and Neverwinter Nights
9 10 11 12 13
Replies
126
Views
22K
Ruin Explorer
Ruin Explorer
Abstruse
News Digest for August 24, 2025
Replies
0
Views
6K
Abstruse
Abstruse
Ruin Explorer
Upcoming AAA/AA CRPGs or story-based RPGs (updated 15/12/2025 following The Game Awards)
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
137
Views
25K
Ruin Explorer
Ruin Explorer

Recent & Upcoming Releases

Enchanted Trinkets Complete

Related Articles

Remove ads

Enchanted Trinkets Complete

Recent & Upcoming Releases

Remove ads

Top