D&D General WotC Continues D&D's Advance To Digital First Brand

It's been apparent for some time that Dungeons & Dragons is moving towards a digital-first brand, centered around D&D Beyond, accompanied by a larger a shift into IP and lifestyle property.

D&D has had cartoons, toys, comics, and so on for decades, so this is not new, but the focus on these IP-based licenses appears to be gowing.

In Hasbro's latest earnings call, CEO Chris Cocks notes that the company -- by which he is referring to Hasbro, WotC, and their digital studio teams -- "delighted more than 1 billion kids, families and fans, secured partnerships that further underwrite future growth, advanced our evolution to a digital-first play and IP company and delivered record profits for our shareholders."

As we enter 2026, we view playing to Win and more importantly, the execution behind it by our Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast and digital studio teams as a clear success. Despite market volatility and a shift in consumer environment, we returned this company to growth in a meaningful way. We delighted more than 1 billion kids, families and fans, secured partnerships that further underwrite future growth, advanced our evolution to a digital-first play and IP company and delivered record profits for our shareholders.

As previously mentioned, this isn't really new information, but it is informative to see it clearly laid out by Hasbro's CEO. In the last couple of years, the company has had massive success with Baldur's Gate 3, and critical (if not commercial) success with the movie Honor Amongst Thieves. At least two D&D TV shows are currently in development--one from HBO as a sequel to Baldur's Gate 3, and another from Netflix, also set in the Forgotten Realms. In the earnings call, Cocks notes that they have "top-tier creative partners across more than 60 active entertainment projects."

Digital sales currently make up 60% of D&D's revenue. With digital-exclusive expansions being sold on D&D Beyond, a robust virtual tabletop integration, and the bringing in of the larger third-party D&D content creators as partnered content, D&D's move towards digital-first is well underway. While there is no indication that the physical books will go away, they are slowly becoming secondary or collector's items rather than the primary product.

 

[Azzy]

Such a brave and bold take. Truly, it is a heroic undertaking to alert people that one is Real Mad at wotc in multiple threads and that this somehow elevates one above "the masses". Verily, one deserves a medal for being so bold.

 

[cranberry]

Gaming companies going digital doesn't bother me. Every TTRPG purchase I've made since COVID has been digital, and I don't see a need to go back.

 

[Dire Bare]

Look, I know some people love wotc, especially this very current version, and they can do no wrong, they love the new direction of "d&d" with every fiber of their gaming soul, art, mechanics, writing, all of it without fault, and wotc and hasbro can do no wrong in their eyes as long as the game is being made for them. Enworld is a homebase for this sentiment. So when I want to check on the wotc faithful this is a great place for it. So rock on your game, but from what is rumbling something is amiss over at wotc because of the last few years, we'll just have to see what happens.

All good, huh?

It's the above quote that gets me to not take you seriously.

It's fine, of course, to not care for the current edition of D&D, and to not care for WotC as a company. A lot of the games you mention you do like are fantastic games!

But to characterize those who do like D&D 5E as folks who love 5E and WotC with "every fiber of their soul" and feel WotC "can do no wrong" . . .

Yeah, I feel pretty comfy not taking your hot take seriously at all.

 

[Gambit42]

I have encountered a fair number of people still bigmad over the OGL saga, I am not overly surprised to see takes like above pop up.

 

[bedir than]

I have encountered a fair number of people still bigmad over the OGL saga, I am not overly surprised to see takes like above pop up.

In this case someone is very, very angry that Radiant Citadel exists and that some, but not all art, in the PHB shows situations that aren't violent.

 

[Scott Christian]

I have encountered a fair number of people still bigmad over the OGL saga, I am not overly surprised to see takes like above pop up.

Really? I actually find that hard to believe. Probably more like, a few, very outspoken people, are mad at the OGL saga.

I mean, I get it. It was a big deal. But there are few places on the internet more seeped in D&D than ENWorld. And I haven't seen one post about it in ages.

 

[Gambit42]

Really? I actually find that hard to believe. Probably more like, a few, very outspoken people, are mad at the OGL saga.

I mean, I get it. It was a big deal. But there are few places on the internet more seeped in D&D than ENWorld. And I haven't seen one post about it in ages.

In this I was actually speaking regarding irl. As far as new posts go, well there's not really much more to discuss in that realm, and these are people who left 5E specific behind, so it wouldn't surprise be as many of those who are not fond have just left. And its not every one, but after speaking on their dislike of WotC, its not uncommon for them to begin singing the praises of Pathfinder 2E, or less commonly, a PBTA game. If you are looking to seek out online spaces where you might encounter this, r/rpg would probably be a good place to begin your search.

 

[Scott Christian]

In this I was actually speaking regarding irl. As far as new posts go, well there's not really much more to discuss in that realm, and these are people who left 5E specific behind, so it wouldn't surprise be as many of those who are not fond have just left. And its not every one, but after speaking on their dislike of WotC, its not uncommon for them to begin singing the praises of Pathfinder 2E, or less commonly, a PBTA game. If you are looking to seek out online spaces where you might encounter this, r/rpg would probably be a good place to begin your search.

How many really left 5e behind? 1%? 2%? Not enough to matter to the overall contingency. For example; "Oh, 1% left for Daggerheart! Oh no!" Until they come back. Then it is: "Oh not.02% left for Daggerheart!" Small numbers equals small consequences.

 

[Gambit42]

How many really left 5e behind? 1%? 2%? Not enough to matter to the overall contingency. For example; "Oh, 1% left for Daggerheart! Oh no!" Until they come back. Then it is: "Oh not.02% left for Daggerheart!" Small numbers equals small consequences.

This is a rather myopic viewpoint, I suggest expanding your horizons. There is a vast RPG world out there that is not 5E, or even 5E adjacent.