Wizards of the Coast President Wants a New Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG

In August 2024, John Hight, former general manager of the Warcraft franchise at Blizzard Entertainment, stepped into his new role as president of Wizards of the Coast. The Hasbro-owned company manages two of gaming’s most iconic brands, Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Hight has now revealed one of his biggest ambitions: bringing a brand-new Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG to life. “I want to see that happen,” he said, emphasizing that the concept of the traditional MMO must be reimagined for today’s players.

A Turbulent Legacy

Before Hight’s arrival, Wizards of the Coast faced significant challenges. In early 2023, leaked plans to restrict the Open Game Licence sparked massive backlash from the Dungeons & Dragons community, forcing the company to reverse course. Reports also surfaced of at least five canceled video game projects, and parent company Hasbro announced nearly 1,100 job cuts later that year. Despite this rocky period, Hight believes the company has now moved past the toughest times, pointing to the growth of Magic: The Gathering as a strong indicator of recovery.

The Rise of Magic: The Gathering

Hight highlighted the massive success of Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy Universe Beyond expansion, which generated 200 million dollars in a single day. The expansion not only brought a surge of revenue but also introduced a wave of new players to the game. Concerns that crossover content might overshadow original IP proved unfounded, with both original and crossover products thriving side by side.

Balancing Digital and Physical Worlds

Having spent over a decade leading digital projects at Blizzard, Hight is comfortable with the digital side of the business. But he has also embraced the physical world of card production. He noted how Wizards of the Coast ensures regional production of Magic cards to avoid global supply chain issues, and even visited major printing facilities to understand the process firsthand. To unify both physical and digital efforts, Hight has reorganized operations: Ken Troop now oversees everything related to Magic, while Dan Ayoub leads all Dungeons & Dragons projects. This structure ensures that new game releases, campaigns, and even TV or film adaptations can align more effectively.

New Game Development Approach

Hight has implemented a centralized development model across all internal and external studios. Teams now work with a shared pool of artists and designers who specialize in Wizards’ IP, reducing inefficiencies between projects. All studios also use Unreal Engine 5, ensuring consistency across development pipelines. Notable projects include Archetype’s sci-fi action adventure Exodus, supported by acclaimed author Peter F. Hamilton, and a single-player Dungeons & Dragons action-adventure from Giant Skull, led by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor director Stig Asmussen.

The Role of AI in Game Creation

While affirming that all final artwork for Magic and Dungeons & Dragons will remain human-made, Hight sees AI as a supportive tool. Potential uses include error detection in coding, dynamic difficulty adjustments, and early audio testing for scripts. AI could streamline development without replacing human creativity, helping studios focus on innovation rather than repetitive tasks.

A New Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG?

When asked about the absence of a blockbuster-level Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG, Hight pointed to the long-running Dungeons & Dragons Online but acknowledged the potential for something new. He stressed that any modern MMO must rethink traditional designs established by Ultima Online, Everquest, and World of Warcraft. His vision is a step-by-step approach: first assembling the right talent, backend technology, and creative direction before launching a new era of D&D online play.

With today’s competitive landscape filled with giants like Fortnite, Minecraft, and the still-thriving World of Warcraft, a new Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG would need to stand out by leveraging the brand’s strength in storytelling and worldbuilding. For Hight, the opportunity lies in revolutionizing the MMO space rather than simply following past formulas.

A next-generation Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG may still be only a “glimmer in his eye,” but with Hight’s track record and Wizards of the Coast’s renewed focus on integrated digital and physical experiences, the foundation for such a project may already be taking shape.

Source: GameIndustry.biz