All articles tagged with #wizards of the coast
Wizards of the Coast banned Badgermole Cub, Gran-Gran, and Stormchaser’s Talent in Standard to slow the format and curb fast, mana-accelerated strategies, while The Fantasticar was banned in Legacy and restricted in Vintage, signaling a shift toward more diverse, interaction-heavy play.
Wizards of the Coast unveiled Mystery Booster Commander Edition at Gen Con, introducing 60 new legendary cards that will be legal for eternal play after a Festival in a Box drop at MagicCon Atlanta in early November. The set combines the new cards with reprints from the original Mystery Booster releases, plus 10 Future Sight reprints and foil versions of selected Alchemy cards from MTG Arena. Cards will be available at events like MagicCons and SCG CONs or through the Festival in a Box on Secret Lair.
John Hight resigns as Wizards of the Coast president after two years, despite strong earnings and a recent $56 million impairment hit to Hasbro’s video game portfolio; he will pursue other opportunities and transition to a consulting role after Sept. 1. The company emphasizes confidence in its digital games while prioritizing proven long-term successes, with Exodus and Warlock slated for 2027 and ongoing strong performance from Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. Gen Con 2026 events and Universes Beyond expansions, including The Hobbit, signal continued growth as a leadership search begins.
Wizards of the Coast president John Hight will relinquish the presidency on Sept. 1, 2026 and transition to an advisory role through Sept. 2, 2027 under an SEC filing revealing a Transitional Advisory Services Agreement with Hasbro. Hight, who became president in 2024, oversaw MTG and D&D initiatives and helped WotC achieve a 45% YoY revenue increase to about $2.2 billion, with MTG contributing $1.72 billion. No successor has been named yet.
John Hight will step down as Wizards of the Coast president on September 1 and will remain with the company as an advisor. Joined from Blizzard in 2024, he oversaw Magic: The Gathering, D&D, and upcoming titles like Exodus and Warlock. Hasbro recently booked a $56 million impairment on its video game portfolio and cancelled several 2028+ releases, while Wizards’ core brands remain strong and a successor search has begun; Hight has previously expressed interest in a D&D MMO.
Exclusive details reveal Skeleton Key and Wizards of the Coast were developing an unannounced horror game, codename Sundown, a sci-fi-tinged psychological horror about Ava and Robo-Avas inside a remote facility; the project was canceled as WOTC shifts to a second title, with layoffs reported. Skeleton Key, now led by Corinne Busche, is pivoting to a pre-production, story-driven first-person action RPG with multiplayer, fueling speculation about Baldur’s Gate 4 and a potential new CRPG path for the studio.
PC Gamer reports Baldur's Gate II is reportedly getting a remake, with former BioWare lead designer Kevin Martens returning to the project; there's also chatter that BG1 could be remade. Martens is currently collaborating with Wizards of the Coast on Exodus and isn’t a full-time Archetype Entertainment developer. With BG3's success and IP ownership by Wizards, a BG2 remake feels likely, but no release date has been announced.
A Baldur’s Gate II remake is reportedly in development under Wizards of the Coast, with co-lead designer Kevin Martens leading the project; the original Baldur’s Gate is also said to be likely getting a remake, according to a PC Gamer report citing a source familiar with the project.
Rumors claim Wizards of the Coast is developing a Baldur's Gate II remake, with reports that a full BG2 rebuild is in the works and BG1 could receive the same treatment; ex-BioWare designer Kevin Martens is said to be involved. No official confirmation from Hasbro/Wizards, and details on gameplay or a release window remain unclear, though the project may opt for a traditional combat system closer to the originals rather than BG3's turn-based approach.
Wizards of the Coast reportedly sent letters to Magic: The Gathering Arena developers urging them to think twice about forming a union, using language that argues for a direct relationship with leadership and warns of worse benefits if unionized. The union says it has about 75% support and seeks protections on layoffs, remote work, and AI governance; WotC has issued a press statement and reportedly hired employer-advocacy lawyers to oppose the union, while union organizers say they haven’t been contacted directly by the company.
Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast reportedly canceled Giant Skull's big-budget, single-player D&D game led by God of War 3 director Stig Asmussen after a cost reassessment; announced about a year ago, it was scrapped less than a year later, while other Wizards projects like Exodus continue development for 2027.
Wizards of the Coast has terminated its publishing agreement with Giant Skull, canceling a Dungeons & Dragons action-adventure game. Hasbro says it decided not to pursue Giant Skull's early concept but will consider future proposals, and Giant Skull founder Stig Asmussen says talks with Hasbro and others are ongoing. The move comes amid Wizards of the Coast’s broader reorganization, including the closure of Atomic Arcade; Giant Skull is staffed by veterans from EA’s Respawn Studio.
Hasbro's Wizards of the Coast reportedly canceled Stig Asmussen's single-player D&D action-adventure at Giant Skull less than a year after it was announced; Bloomberg says WotC pulled the plug on the early concept, though the studio can still pitch other projects, and Hasbro's broader D&D lineup—exodus, Warlock, and other initiatives—continues underway as part of a large push into video games.
BioWare legend James Ohlen, longtime designer behind Baldur’s Gate 2, says leading ArchetypeEntertainment’s ambitious sci‑fi RPG Exodus—funded by Wizards of the Coast and due in 2027—took a toll on his health, describing it as having to cut the vision in half under constant pushback and lacking a protective executive to shield the creative process. He left Archetype before Exodus shipped last year and is now working on RPG adventure books with Jesse Sky, with no plans to return to running a video‑game startup. Exodus is notable for time‑dilation mechanics and a Mass Effect‑style vibe, with Matthew McConaughey involved in some capacity.
Wizards of the Coast previewed Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit at MagicCon Las Vegas, revealing first-look images of a Hobbit-themed MTG set that includes the main set, lands, boosters, and tokens, featuring Bilbo, Smaug, and artifacts like the Arkenstone; worldwide release is scheduled for August 14, 2026.