Wizards of the Coast is experimenting with a shorter, more focused spoiler season for the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set Lorwyn Eclipsed, emphasizing in-depth videos and fewer content creators to address community concerns about overwhelming card reveals, which could signal a shift towards more manageable preview practices in the future.
Wizards of the Coast has appointed Blizzard veteran Paul Della Bitta to lead its Digital Ventures games division, while co-founder James Ohlen is stepping back from game development to focus on tabletop RPGs, as the company advances its push into AAA gaming with projects like Exodus and Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons.
Hasbro is appointing Paul Della Bitta to lead its Wizards of the Coast Digital Ventures division as it ramps up its investment in big-budget video games, including the sci-fi RPG Exodus, set for release in 2027. Co-founder James Ohlen will step back from game development to focus on tabletop RPGs, while Exodus is seen as a key project in Hasbro's broader gaming strategy.
Wizards of the Coast announced delays for some Secret Lair products due to raw material issues, causing uncertainty about release timelines and options for affected customers, despite efforts to improve shipping through limited-run pre-printing, which now appears to be inconsistent or ineffective.
Wizards of the Coast is considering changing the rules for Hybrid Mana cards in Commander from an 'and' to an 'or', which could significantly expand deckbuilding options and increase the playability of nearly 500 cards, though the proposal is still under feedback and not finalized.
The article discusses the innovative and popular 'Unknown' event for Magic: The Gathering, where designers create humorous, rough, and unconventional cards for conventions, fostering community fun and creativity outside the usual rigorous card development process.
Wizards of the Coast has turned Universes Beyond from a controversial product line into a successful and popular addition to Magic: The Gathering, with potential for future changes such as a Universes Beyond free format if player dissatisfaction grows, though such changes seem unlikely in the near term.
Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond sets continue to face ongoing player complaints, mainly about their inclusion in Standard, higher prices, and supply shortages driven by collectors and flippers, prompting Wizards of the Coast to consider solutions to balance the game's original fantasy setting with new IPs and address secondary market issues.
Wizards of the Coast has limited Secret Lair sales to two per customer to combat scalping and bots, aiming to make the Sonic the Hedgehog drop more accessible, but this may inadvertently encourage more botting and queue-jumping, leaving fans uncertain about the sale's success.
Dungeons and Dragons is shifting to a full franchise model under new leadership from former Halo executive Dan Ayoub, encompassing books, video games, film, and TV, aiming for a coordinated and well-funded approach to expand the franchise's reach and impact.
Wizards of the Coast has reorganized the Dungeons & Dragons franchise into a unified 'franchise model' under new leadership, with Dan Ayoub now heading the entire franchise, which includes books, video games, film, and TV, aiming for a coordinated and well-funded approach, though no new film or TV projects are currently confirmed.
Lightning Greaves, a Magic: The Gathering card originally considered a mistake due to its 0 equip cost, has become widely accepted and celebrated, especially in Commander and Modern formats, after being reprinted multiple times by Wizards of the Coast to make it more accessible and maintain game balance.
Wizards of the Coast has announced an exclusive publishing deal with Giant Skull, led by Stig Asmussen, to develop new story-driven, action-adventure Dungeons & Dragons games, starting with a single-player title for PC and consoles, with more details to be revealed later.
Wizards of the Coast has announced a publishing agreement with Giant Skull to develop a new single-player action-adventure game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, with additional D&D-based projects in development across various studios, emphasizing their focus on digital gaming and storytelling.
Wizards of the Coast is offering Black Friday discounts on Dungeons & Dragons products, including 10% off the 2024 Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide on Amazon. While the 2024 Monster Manual is available for pre-order without a discount, several adventure books and older editions are on sale. Additionally, Roll20 is offering up to 50% off its annual Plus and Pro subscriptions for virtual tabletop experiences.