WotC Wizards owns SIX video game studios and other business of WotC

[bedir than]

We’ve announced six different studios that are first-party and owned. There’s Archetype in Austin that’s working on a sci-fi game that we’re really excited about. It’s a new IP.

You’ve got Atomic Arcade in Raleigh-Durham, that’s working on a very mature G.I. Joe game, and then, Invoke is working on a D&D game. The key piece I’d tell you is that we have been really fortunate to hire some amazing industry veterans, who have a passion for the brands and games that they’re building.

There are also instances where we are licensing out IP to people. Later this week, Larian Studios will announce the official launch date for Baldur’s Gate 3. We’re super excited about that.

From Geekwire with Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast.

There's gobs more in there, including a mention of species v race as pertains to the One D&D playtest.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

From Geekwire with Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast.

There's gobs more in there, including a mention of species v race as pertains to the One D&D playtest.

Kinda weird as she doesn't mention who the other three are, only the three we already knew about (Invoke are the same Montreal-based studio who used to be called Tuque).

 

[bedir than]

Kind weird as she doesn't mention who the other three are, only the three we already knew about (Invoke are the same Montreal-based studio who used to be called Tuque).

Are they counting Wizards itself as one for Arena?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Are they counting Wizards itself as one for Arena?

That'd bring us up to 4. Maybe she's also counting Beyond, though that'd be a stretch. She says they're announced but...

 

[bedir than]

That'd bring us up to 4. Maybe she's also counting Beyond, though that'd be a stretch. She says they're announced but...

"Digital Studio"
Arena
Skeleton Key

Who We Are | Wizards of the Coast

At Wizards, we create entertainment that inspires creativity, forges friendships, and fosters communities. Learn more about the values that define us.

company.wizards.com

 

[Ruin Explorer]

LOL @ "Digital Studio" I guess that's technically announced but not as announced as Cynthia thinks!

 

[bedir than]

LOL @ "Digital Studio" I guess that's technically announced but not as announced as Cynthia thinks!

I think that's what they're calling Beyond and the VTT

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I think that's what they're calling Beyond and the VTT

No, the digital studio doesn't link to D&D Beyond and D&D Beyond isn't considered a video game, WotC has been very clear they view a distinction there.

Anyways here is what I uncovered from the coverage of the opening of Skeleton Key Studios.

"Skeleton Key joins the ranks of Wizards of the Coast’s existing North America Video Game studios: Archetype Entertainment (also in Austin, TX), Atomic Arcade (Raleigh, NC), Tuque Games (Montreal, QC), and two studios in Washington State" Tuque Games was probably renamed Invoke Studios I think.

Two of the Studios don't have a name, but I'm certain one is the Arena Devs. Not sure what the other one does.

So Invoke Studios has Live Wire and Dark Alliance to it's name, Archetype is working on a new IP Sci-Fi Game, we know nothing else about that game, and Skeleton Key I still have no idea, perhaps a tie in to the upcoming D&D movie?

And there is the Arena studio and an unnamed mystery studio that we know nothing about.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Of btw MtG fans are thrilled that all five tent pole sets (not including Brothers War as it's too new) made a $100+ million each, that is Kamigawa Neon Dynasty, Streets of New Capenna, Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, Whale Bait 2022 (Double Masters 2022), and to my surprise Dominaria United. Bonus, the Warhammer 40k Commander Decks are on their 3rd printing and sell fast out fast from stores according to Cynthia.

WTF is this money coming for this at this point, I don't know, especially in this economy.

 

[CleverNickName]

WTF is this money coming for this at this point, I don't know, especially in this economy.

My theory?

It's a lot more socially acceptable today to just say "no thanks, I feel like staying home" than it was just 3-4 years ago. For example, people aren't dining out as often as they once did. Though the numbers are consistently increasing, people in my country are still only dining out about 75% as much as they were before the Covid-19 pandemic.

They aren't attending as many concerts as they did before, either; concert attendance is about 50% what it was before the pandemic. Other entertainment destinations are still pretty low as well: museum attendance is about 40% pre-Covid, theaters 60%, amusement parks 50%, and so on. The pandemic taught us how to spend our entertainment money on things we can enjoy at home.

So yes, the economy is bad. But it's also different. And some parts of the economy are doing quite well, all things considered (streaming services, video games, video conferencing...). The pandemic not only taught people how to entertain themselves by staying home, it normalized it.

(I'm not an economist, though. Perhaps one could weigh in?)