WotC Hasbro's CEO Reports OGL-Related D&D Beyond Cancellations Had Minimal Impact

Hasbro held a quarterly earnings call recently in which CEO Chris Cocks (who formerly ran WotC before being promoted) indicated that the OGL controversy had a "comparatively minor" impact on D&D's revenue due to D&D Beyond subscription cancellations. He also noted that D&D grew by 20% in 2022 (Magic: the Gathering revenues grew by an astonishing 40% in Quarter 4!)

WotC as a whole was up 22% in Q4 2022.

Lastly, on D&D, we misfired on updating our Open Gaming License, a key vehicle for creators to share or commercialize their D&D inspired content. Our best practice is to work collaboratively with our community, gather feedback, and build experiences that inspire players and creators alike - it's how we make our games among the best in the industry. We have since course corrected and are delivering a strong outcome for the community and game.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Fiscal years don’t generally line up with calendar years. For example, the US government’s fiscal year runs from October to September instead of January to December.

And most state and local agencies in the US go July 1 to June 30. Accountants be crazy.

 

[darjr]

Fiscal years don’t generally line up with calendar years. For example, the US government’s fiscal year runs from October to September instead of January to December.

Care to share a source? For Hasbro? I dint see it in this doc from them.

 

[Charlaquin]

“Quarter ended Dec 26, 2022”?

They’re saying Q1 of fiscal year 2021 ended on that date. Which would be consistent with an October-September fiscal calendar.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Care to share a source? For Hasbro? I dint see it in this doc from them.

It's general business/government practice. The UK tax year runs from April to April.

Fiscal year - Wikipedia

 

[darjr]

OK.

So the fourth quarter ended in the middle of Feb? Or the end of Jan?

 

[Charlaquin]

Care to share a source? For Hasbro? I dint see it in this doc from them.

You literally quoted it. If Q1 of FY 2022 ended in late December 2021, their fiscal calendar must start in October, since October through December is 3 months (one quarter of a year).

 

[darjr]

And apologies. I didn’t mean to derail my own thread!

 

[Blue]

@Morrus

Also there is this bit.

View attachment 275733

It happened right at the end of 2022, even after holiday purchases - it wouldn't have affected sales any of that year. “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” In this case, they put up a statistic that literally has nothing to do with the event as proof to their stockholders their "misfire" wouldn't affect them.

Let's look at 1Q2023 year-over-year to actually judge that.

Well, looks like WotC is continuing putting out misleading statements to the public. Multiple times start to outline a recurring pattern. While I'm not sympathizing with the stockholders, WotC still haven't identified who sent that original "apology" that also contained information that later was shown to be false to have them apologize for lying to us. Wonder if it's someone to high up to be willing to take a fall so they just hope we forget about it with Kyle Brink's effective media blitz. He at least seems to get it.

 

[darjr]

You literally quoted it. If Q1 of FY 2022 ended in late December 2021, their fiscal calendar must start in October, since October through December is 3 months (one quarter of a year).

So how does the boycott which happened at the end of Jan and into Feb count for q4 2022 or year end 2022?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So how does the boycott which happened at the end of Jan and into Feb count for q4 2022 or year end 2022?

It doesn't, that data isn't available yet. But it's a company's job to talk up the share price. Far more money is lost due to a fall in share price than any effect of the boycott. And a company with a falling share price is vulnerable to hostile takeover. The sharks are quick to smell blood in the water. There isn't room for such niceties as "truth" when you are fighting for survival.