Wizards of the Coast Sees Success with Baldur's Gate 3 and Monopoly Go

The year 2023 began on a low note for Wizards of the Coast, with the cancellation of several games and layoffs in the first week. However, the company's fortunes have since improved dramatically. The Hasbro subsidiary has seen the successful launch of Baldur's Gate 3, which received widespread critical acclaim, and the partnership with Scopely for Monopoly Go resulted in a new game entering the top of the mobile charts, outperforming games like Roblox and Candy Crush Saga in US consumer spending. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Gaming president Cynthia Williams and Hasbro digital games group's head of digital games Tim Fields expressed their satisfaction with recent developments. When asked about the commercial success of Baldur's Gate 3, Williams responded positively, stating that the game's performance has been pleasing and that Larian, the game's developer, is also happy with its performance. The game has set a high standard for AAA RPGs, and its success can be attributed to the partnership between Wizards of the Coast and Larian Studios. Fields praised Larian Studios, saying they are one of the best in the business at building deep RPGs and CRPGs. The company is interested in partnering with other developers who have great ideas for games that can benefit from representing one of their beloved brands. Williams emphasized that the company is committed to creating high-quality games and is willing to work with external partners to achieve this goal. The company's approach to game development is focused on quality over quantity, and they are committed to delivering products of the highest possible quality. Wizards of the Coast has built a North American studio system, including studios in Austin, North Carolina, and Montreal, and plans to continue its split approach of making some games internally and working with external partners on others. The company is also exploring the use of its many brands, including Transformers, and is looking to create new and innovative gaming experiences. In addition to established intellectual properties, Wizards of the Coast is also working on original intellectual properties, including a multiplatform sci-fi RPG. The company is optimistic about the gaming market, with over three billion gamers worldwide and an expected expansion of the market in the coming years. Fields stated that the company is excited about the growth of the gaming industry and is committed to bringing great games to players regardless of their preferred brand, genre, or platform.