WotC Hasbro Gaming Down 17% But D&D Remains 'Bright Spot'

ICv2 reports on Hasbro's latest quarterly report, noting that "Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons were two bright spots in Hasbro’s Q3, an otherwise tough quarter with sales and earnings both hit by actual and threatened tariffs on goods from China".

Other notes from ICv2:

• Hasbro Gaming, which does not include franchise brands Monopoly and Magic: The Gathering, was down 17%
• Total gaming sales, including Magic and Monopoly, were roughly flat, a big change from the 26% growth in Q2
• WotC has close to a dozen [digital] games in development for delivery over the next five to six years
• Hasbro believes that WotC sales can be doubled over the next five years, “…as we’ve accomplished over the past five years.”

 

[gyor]

If I am a Hasbro CEO I would use Gamma World to sell action figures or anthropomorphic mutants, but maybe not d20 Future because Disney wouldn't like a rival for its Star Wars cash cow. The d20 system is perfect for a sword & sorcery game as D&D but 3rd Party publishers could give their own feedback about how to create a d20M for higher number of genres. Somebody would like play a d20 version of World of Darkness, but not Monte Cook's one.

Hasbro may be wishing to sell a TTRPG of (marvel?) superheroes, or some famous videogame cash cow, but this is a true challenge for game designers. D20 isn't ready for a "Street Fighters vs Overwatch", and many DMs will want to use their own expys.

5e is perfectly fine for Sci Fi settings and there are already 5e Sci Fi Settings, and more coming like Stargate.

 

[gyor]

If you like Fortnite, you play Fortnite. Who the hell would play a tabletop version of that (already dull) video game?

I assume people play the Fortnite video game, which is not me.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

If I am a Hasbro CEO I would use Gamma World to sell action figures or anthropomorphic mutants, but maybe not d20 Future because Disney wouldn't like a rival for its Star Wars cash cow. The d20 system is perfect for a sword & sorcery game as D&D but 3rd Party publishers could give their own feedback about how to create a d20M for higher number of genres. Somebody would like play a d20 version of World of Darkness, but not Monte Cook's one.

Hasbro may be wishing to sell a TTRPG of (marvel?) superheroes, or some famous videogame cash cow, but this is a true challenge for game designers. D20 isn't ready for a "Street Fighters vs Overwatch", and many DMs will want to use their own expys.

Here's the thing about "d20 modern"... it already exists. It's in the DMG, you can play d20 modern already with rules for firearms and sci-fi weapons. Need boats or cars? Get Saltmarsh or Avernus.

I have literally played in games of D&D 5e where it's set in a 1920s "gangs of New York" city of Greyhawk, and also games fighting dwarves with space technology and mech suits. The 5e system is so flexible, it already is d20.

 

[Parmandur]

Original IPs outside of D&D and MtG does not proclude the possibility of using D&D 5e rules for an entirely new IP/Setting.

For sure: Chris Cocks in his time at Wizards seems to have brought three priorities: invest in making quality digital product, make new stuff, and cross the streams. I think he's taking things in good directions.

 

[gyor]

For sure: Chris Cocks in his time at Wizards seems to have brought three priorities: invest in making quality digital product, make new stuff, and cross the streams. I think he's taking things in good directions.

Is he the one who ended the Forgotten Realms Novel line?

 

[Parmandur]

Is he the one who ended the Forgotten Realms Novel line?

No, those were out before he got there, IIRC.

 

[darjr]

He was trying to license out the novels, in a sense resurrect them. I think.
Also I love crossing the streams

 

[Parmandur]

He was trying to license out the novels, in a sense resurrect them. I think.
Also I love crossing the streams

Which worked, there are both Magic and D&D novels again.

 

[gyor]

Which worked, there are both Magic and D&D novels again.

It sort of, 1 Drizzt novel a year isn't back, it more a trial balloon. MtG novels are back, but mostly in E-Format.

 

[Parmandur]

It sort of, 1 Drizzt novel a year isn't back, it more a trial balloon. MtG novels are back, but mostly in E-Format.

Well, gotta start somewhere.