Wizards of the Coast is canceling at the least 5 unannounced video games because it seeks to give attention to video games “strategically aligned with creating our current manufacturers,” in line with a brand new report by Bloomberg.
Whereas it is unclear which video games have been canceled, Wizards of the Coast claims that fewer than 15 individuals on the firm have been impacted by the modifications. The corporate instructed IGN in a press release:
We stay dedicated to utilizing digital video games as a cornerstone of our technique for bringing our video games to gamers all over the world. We have now made some modifications to our long-term portfolio to give attention to video games that are strategically aligned with creating our current manufacturers and people which present promise in increasing or partaking our viewers in new methods.
Hidden Path Leisure and OtherSide Leisure, each of which had been engaged on video games for Wizards of the Coast, are among the many studios doubtlessly affected by the cancellations.
The cancellations come within the wake of an formidable 2022 growth that noticed the corporate open a number of new studios. They included Skeleton Key, an Austin-based studio led by former BioWare developer Christian Dailey, and Invoke Video games, a Montreal-based studio organized by the builders of 2021’s Baldur’s Gate: Darkish Alliance.
Along with opening Invoke Video games and Skeleton Key, Wizards of the Coast is publishing Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian Studios. It additionally had a number of different video games within the works, together with a sci-fi role-playing recreation by former BioWare developer James Ohlen and a recreation by Atomic Arcade starring G.I. Joe’s Snake Eyes.
In pushing into the digital area, Wizards of the Coast has discovered success with Magic: The Gathering Enviornment, however its Dungeons & Dragons: Darkish Alliance revival by Tuque Video games was panned by followers and critics alike. Hasbro likewise noticed its inventory plummet late final yr over its dealing with of Magic: The Gathering, together with its expensive thirtieth anniversary version that sparked furor amongst followers.
Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast will hope for a greater reception for Baldur’s Gate 3, which is slated to enter full launch in August.
Kat Bailey is a Senior Information Editor at IGN in addition to co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Ship her a DM at @the_katbot.