Wizards of the Coast Cancels Five Unannounced Games as It Focuses on Developing ‘Existing Brands’
Wizards of the Coast is canceling at least five unannounced games as it seeks to focus on games “strategically aligned with developing our existing brands,” according to a new report by Bloomberg.
While it’s unclear which games have been canceled, Wizards of the Coast claims that fewer than 15 people at the company have been impacted by the changes. The company told IGN in a statement:
We remain committed to using digital games as a cornerstone of our strategy for bringing our games to players around the world. We have made some changes to our long-term portfolio to focus on games which are strategically aligned with developing our existing brands and those which show promise in expanding or engaging our audience in new ways.
Hidden Path Entertainment and OtherSide Entertainment, both of which were working on games for Wizards of the Coast, are among the studios potentially affected by the cancellations.
The cancellations come in the wake of an ambitious 2022 expansion that saw the company open multiple new studios. They included Skeleton Key, an Austin-based studio led by former BioWare developer Christian Dailey, and Invoke Games, a Montreal-based studio organized by the developers of 2021’s Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance.
In addition to opening Invoke Games and Skeleton Key, Wizards of the Coast is publishing Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian Studios. It also had several other games in the works, including a sci-fi role-playing game by former BioWare developer James Ohlen and a game by Atomic Arcade starring G.I. Joe’s Snake Eyes.
In pushing into the digital space, Wizards of the Coast has found success with Magic: The Gathering Arena, but its Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance revival by Tuque Games was panned by fans and critics alike. Hasbro likewise saw its stock plummet late last year over its handling of Magic: The Gathering, including its pricey 30th anniversary edition that sparked furor among fans.
Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast will hope for a better reception for Baldur’s Gate 3, which is slated to enter full release in August.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
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