Wizards of the Coast Head Explains Benefits to D&D Franchise Model

The head of Wizards of the Coast believes that moving to a franchise model will allow for more alignment between D&D multimedia and the core D&D tabletop game. Recently, Wizards of the Coast president John Hight spoke with GameIndustry.biz in a wide-ranging interview about the gaming company. Much of the interview was spent on Wizards' digital gaming ambitions, but Hight did speak about the realignment of the company to a franchise model.

Under the franchise model, all D&D-related operations now run through Dan Ayoub as opposed to having different arms for entertainment, video games, and tabletop. In the interview, Hight stated that the franchise model would allow for better coordination - specifically between different aspects of the franchise. One example was the D&D movie, which had relatively limited crossover with the D&D tabletop game. "We'd love to have had a D&D book or campaign a part and parcel with the movie," he says.

He also noted that Stranger Things - which is receiving a new tie-in project next month - could be integrated more with the game. "It'd be nice to have that all lined up, so when this thing rolls out, we've got a campaign for you to enjoy that's something you saw on the show, or the characters in the show."

Additionally, Hight noted that another side to the franchise model is to fully align the digital and physical sides of play, which he hopes will lead to in-person play. "Unfortunately, because of COVID, there's a whole generation of gamers that has spent a good deal of their time playing only online," he said. "And they're re-discovering the joy of being able to play together. What I want us to be able to do is have players move fairly seamlessly between in person play and online play."

Elsewhere in the interview, Hight hinted at a new D&D MMORPG, stating that he has encouraged development of a new MMO but stopped shy of saying a project was officially in the works.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Ah, yes, notably anti-growth competitors Darrington Press, MCDM, EN Publishing, Kobold, Paizo - just happy and content to never grow, ever

There's a difference between being anti-growth and constantly pushing to make the most profit possible by any legal means.

 

[bedir than]

There's a difference between being anti-growth and constantly pushing to make the most profit possible by any legal means.

There's no evidence that Hasbro has chosen to "make the most profit possible by any legal means."

They have taken actions you and I disagree with, but that doesn't mean they've done anything close to this standard you present.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Elsewhere in the interview, Hight hinted at a new D&D MMORPG, stating that he has encouraged development of a new MMO but stopped shy of saying a project was officially in the works.

Probably because convincing a company to spend the $200m to $400m it now takes to develop an MMORPG, especially one which is using a licenced IP, is going to be extremely difficult.

I mean, Microsoft just cancelled an MMORPG which was 80-90% of the way through production, by an experienced and skilled team with a hit MMO under their belts (indeed, the only new Western MMORPG to actually succeed post-GW2, ESO), and must already have cost probably upwards of $150m, maybe a lot upwards. And that was an original IP which means MS would:

A) Reap all the benefits of any merch, spin-offs, 100% of the profits, etc.

B) Not risk the IP holder deciding to cause problems. Which has been a thing - for example, the reason that Warhammer: Age of Reckoning shut down was GW pulled the licence (and has failed to convince anyone to make a Warhammer MMO of any description since).

 

[Ruin Explorer]

There's no evidence that Hasbro has chosen to "make the most profit possible by any legal means."

They have taken actions you and I disagree with, but that doesn't mean they've done anything close to this standard you present.

If you take the most mindlessly literal interpretation of his statement, sure, but Hasbro's behaviour re: firing successful teams and people from profitable companies, just to get a stock bump is pretty close to the line for a more realistic appraisal of his meaning. So I think actually your "anything close" is a bit dodgy.

 

[bedir than]

If you take the most mindlessly literal interpretation of his statement, sure, but Hasbro's behaviour re: firing successful teams and people from profitable companies, just to get a stock bump is pretty close to the line for a more realistic appraisal of his meaning. So I think actually your "anything close" is a bit dodgy.

That's normal behavior for a business, not anything near a legal limit.

It's not mindlessly literal to use the true meaning of words, particularly when the phrase in question has little to nothing to do with the topic of switching from a Studio to Franchise model -- is that something that is "near the legal limits" to drive profit or a red herring?

 

[bedir than]

Will the switch to Franchise model for D&D mean that Exodus is supported by D&D or will it remain its own business unit?

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Will the switch to Franchise model for D&D mean that Exodus is supported by D&D or will it remain its own business unit?

There is no real way to say from where we are now. Until we see somethings in action it is difficult to say that what this appears to mean to us is the same as what it means to WoTC management.

Strictly speaking Exodus is not part of the D&D brand, even the ttrpg is a game based on the 5e chassis not a D&D game.

We have to wait and see what this franchise thing really means and if it lasts long enough to make a difference.

 

[Mark Craddock]

I found this part interesting:


It cuts both ways of course, but encouraging people to play in person is a good goal IMO.

My problem with Hasbro is that they are notorious for scuttling thes plans about 1/2 way in. They wanted an in-house VTT then they cancel it. They bought a movie studio and sell it the same year that the DnD movie & the Transformers rise of beasts debuts. And sadly, I expect this guy to be fired at Christmas

I'm sure everyone who has actually worked in DnD in the last 3 years has put their all of their passion into the projects but the suits just worry about Return On Investment.

 

[Parmandur]

Will the switch to Franchise model for D&D mean that Exodus is supported by D&D or will it remain its own business unit?

I think effectively that Archetype is already running as the "Exodus Franchise" team. If Exodus takes off, no doubt that will continue.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

My problem with Hasbro is that they are notorious for scuttling thes plans about 1/2 way in. They wanted an in-house VTT then they cancel it. They bought a movie studio and sell it the same year that the DnD movie & the Transformers rise of beasts debuts. And sadly, I expect this guy to be fired at Christmas

I'm sure everyone who has actually worked in DnD in the last 3 years has put their all of their passion into the projects but the suits just worry about Return On Investment.

As far as I can tell it is a feature of management change. The movie studio buying and selling is under 2 different CEOs as far as I remember. A new person comes in and reverses or partially reverses what the previous guy did, is pretty common. Especially if the company is under pressure from investors.
As for Sigil, I think, too much is being made of Sigil here. It is a functional piece of software. I look at it occasionally. One can build maps. I have not tried to host a party since the original release where it was unstable. So, I do not know if those issues have been addressed. What I do notice, is that someone is fixing the odd bug and someone is adding assets to the thing. Also, the suggestion page is being updated.
It is not quite dead. What has never been clear to me is, who is this for? I have looked at Sigil and Tailspire and both of them are a ton more work to use than any 2D VTT. They are also more work on the player side compared to a 2D VTT or an actual videogame like BG3 or Solasta.
I am not sure I would use it even for free, even for a boss fight as compared to a 2d VTT. Especially since it is not integrated into Beyond.
I am also not sure I have any blame on WoTC management regarding the cancelling of Sigil. I am pretty sure I would have cancelled Sigil. I am somewhat amazed it got as far as it did anyway.