Chris Cocks on D&D: We want to work with streamers to make the game as big as possible

Chris Cocks, Hasbro CEO and former Wizards of the Coast boss, answered questions on toys, Magic: The Gathering and D&D for Scott Tong and James Perkins Mastromarino on WBUR.

In the article, he says they’ve made mistakes but grown Magic: The Gathering, that nearly 45% of people who play D&D do not identify as male (35% for Magic: The Gathering) and rules in movies and computer games for Hasbro.

You can read or listen to the full radio embed or transcript, and Geek Native will post summaries here.

About the job losses/layoffs.

• The company is undergoing a turnaround, especially in their toy business, leading to difficult cost-saving choices.
• Layoffs were necessary and mainly impacted the toy division and related support services.
• While the games business was less affected, it did experience some job cuts due to changing priorities within a rapidly growing market.
• The company sees the games business as a significant investment and a major growth area for the future.

Why Hasbro is moving from toys to digital.

• The company boasts talented teams and beloved brands but faces broader industry challenges in the toy sector.
• The games market has experienced significant growth, while the toy market’s growth has been slower for decades.
• This difference is partly due to declining birth rates and how play habits change with age.
• People are playing games (both tabletop and digital) at younger ages and for longer into adulthood, shifting the market away from traditional toys.

On the OGL drama and winning players back

• The company values a wide range of fans, not just those vocal online, and considers players of all types when making decisions.
• Social media is a valuable tool, but gathering feedback from the broadest possible player base is essential.
• Overall, fan satisfaction is high, despite some mistakes and decisions, the company has had to reverse.
• This responsiveness is considered vital, along with being connected to the community.
• D&D’s open license is valuable, and they support the vibrant creator community, streamers, and small publishers that have emerged around the game.

Is Hasbro killing Magic: The Gathering, it’s “golden goose”, by flooding the market?

• Despite the Bank of America’s initial negative ratings, success in growing Magic: The Gathering led to a positive reassessment.
• Over several years, Magic has tripled in size and player base by focusing on inclusivity and broadening its appeal.
• Magic and D&D boast high percentages of non-male players (35% and 45%, respectively), reflecting a commitment to diversity.
• Offering different playstyles (casual, social, competitive) expands the audience.
• Focusing on the collectable aspect has benefited the game’s primary sellers, such as hobby stores.
• This approach has led to overall growth in player numbers and engagement, resulting in success for the company and its partners.

On whether Hasbro will favour games over movies

• Hasbro is investing heavily in entertainment, with Hollywood productions in the pipeline.
• The upcoming “Transformers One” movie will be a significant event, exploring the iconic characters’ origins.
• They recognize the growing dominance of video games in entertainment, especially with younger demographics and multi-generational appeal (think “Super Mario” movie).
• Hasbro is investing in digital platforms and entertainment alongside their core physical games and toys.

The full article is on WBUR.