In a recent Twitter thread celebrating the accolades and success of Baldur’s Gate 3, Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, shed light on the significant impact of the recent layoffs at Dungeons & Dragons. Vincke expressed his sadness, revealing that “of the people who were in the original meeting room, there’s almost nobody left.”
This revelation comes in the wake of Hasbro’s announcement of laying off 1,100 employees, aimed at “modernizing our organization and getting even leaner.” The aftermath saw a wave of layoffs affecting both Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, with notable names such as art director Breeanna Heiss and head of publishing and licensing Liz Schuh being among those affected.
Vincke expressed gratitude to the D&D team for granting creative freedom to Baldur’s Gate 3. However, the current state of the team, with key members gone, raises concerns about the future of the beloved franchise. The layoffs have extended to various departments, including senior data scientist Michael Rexford and director of universes beyond creative and production for Magic: The Gathering, Megan Galbraith Donahue.
In an investor meeting earlier this year, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks credited Baldur’s Gate 3 as a significant factor contributing to a 40% increase in digital gaming revenue. Despite this success, the ongoing layoffs in the wake of the game’s triumphs raise questions about Hasbro’s decision-making and the impact on both the gaming and tech industries.
While financial struggles for Hasbro are acknowledged, the severity of the layoffs, especially targeting senior roles, is perplexing. The move has not only raised eyebrows within the industry but also drawn public criticism. The timing is particularly concerning as Dungeons & Dragons is on the brink of releasing a revised ruleset, akin to a new edition of the game, and the sudden departure of key staff members poses a genuine risk to the project’s success. The situation calls for a closer examination of the decision-making process, as consumer goodwill becomes a casualty in the wake of these layoffs.
