3% Of Hasbro's Workforce Laid Off

In recent weeks, WotC's Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford both left the company--they have both now joined Critical Role's Darrington Press. Dungeons & Dragons VP Jess Lanzillo also announced her departure this week, and Todd Kenreck revealed that he had been laid off.

While this is a mix of voluntary departures and lay-offs, it seems that these folks are not alone. 3% of Hasbro's global workforce has been laid off, according to the Wall Street Journal. That amounts to about 150 of its 5,000-strong staff.

In April, Hasbro warned that the current US tariffs would lead to layoffs.

In 2023, Hasbro cut nearly 2,000 staff, including Mike Mearls and in 2024 let go "less than 100" employees at WotC. Earlier this year, 90% of D&D's Project Sigil team was laid off, including Andy Collins.

 

[Bravesteel25]

This is not a great time to be laid off. I hope that everyone who has been laid off lands on their feet relatively quickly.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

you still did not have Diplomacy?

Diplomacy?! Who needs that?

 

[doctorhook]

Definitely likely to see more of this unfortunately, for both tariff and (especially) AI reasons. Welcome to the future

 

[Junkyard Tornado]

I wonder how many were layed off from the D&D specific team and how many are left. It sure has felt like that team continues to shrink but that may just be my perception from limited info.

 

[Remathilis]

Yeah, HASBRO can be blamed for a lot, but everyone knew layoffs for companies like HASBRO would come fast and furious after tariffs. Smaller companies have already done that, or gone out of business completely by now.

Hasbro is having all sorts of problems with toy distribution due to the on-again/off-again style of the tariff negotiations. (I am being as charitable as I can to avoid being banned). The toy isles are barren except for whatever stock from 2024 they had left and trickles of new things. I can absolutely see how that is going to hurt Hasbro and Mattel (amongst others).

 

[Jd Smith1]

Hasbro is having all sorts of problems with toy distribution due to the on-again/off-again style of the tariff negotiations. (I am being as charitable as I can to avoid being banned). The toy isles are barren except for whatever stock from 2024 they had left and trickles of new things. I can absolutely see how that is going to hurt Hasbro and Mattel (amongst others).

The shelves are overflowing where I'm at.

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

Aw, American children have too many toys anyway. Came straight from the top, that did.

 

[MGibster]

The shelves are overflowing where I'm at.

It takes a while for the gears of commerce to stop grinding. But as evidenced by the number of unsold Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney toys sitting on the shelves, it looks like Hasbro has been overproducing toys for the last few years.

 

[Mistwell]

I know. I'm still 1% naive at 60 years old.

Honestly you don't look a day over 59 1/2.

 

[Jd Smith1]

It takes a while for the gears of commerce to stop grinding. But as evidenced by the number of unsold Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney toys sitting on the shelves, it looks like Hasbro has been overproducing toys for the last few years.

Yeah. Even if the trade war persists, I don't think American children are going to lack entertainment hardware anytime soon.