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. However, the company's fortunes have since taken a dramatic turn for the better. The launch of Baldur's Gate 3 has received widespread critical acclaim, while the partnership with Scopely for Monopoly Go has resulted in a top-performing mobile game, outpacing titles 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 the company's recent developments. When asked about the commercial success of Baldur's Gate 3, Williams replied that the company is pleased with the game's performance, and that Larian Studios is a terrific partner. Fields added that the company is excited to work with partners who are the best in the world at creating deep RPGs and CRPGs. The emphasis on working with external studios suggests a quality-over-quantity approach to the company's digital gaming efforts. Williams and Fields reiterated that the company is committed to creating high-quality games and is open to partnering with other studios to achieve this goal. The company's success this year has been driven by external projects, but Wizards of the Coast has also built out a North American studio system, including Austin-based Archetype and Skeleton Key, North Carolina's Atomic Arcade, Invoke Studios in Montreal, and two more studios in Washington. Fields suggested that the company's split approach of making some games internally and working with external partners on others will continue. The company is also looking to make greater use of the many brands it has access to through parent company Hasbro, including Transformers. In addition to established IPs, Wizards of the Coast is also working on an original IP, a multiplatform sci-fi RPG, at Archetype. The company sees potential for this IP to extend beyond digital entertainment, including role-playing adventures and licensed consumer products. The mobile side of the business has also been a focus, with the launch success of Monopoly Go. Williams noted that having a beloved IP associated with a game can help with user acquisition costs. The company is optimistic about the market, with Fields citing the growth of the global gaming industry and the potential for expansion into new markets and devices.