Hasbro "Plays to Win": Why the Company is Investing Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Video Games

In the 90s, ego and emotions buried Hasbro's video gaming ambitions. Now, the company is transforming its business by focusing on creating its own titles and centralized management through Wizards of the Coast. Our extensive article discusses the company's new strategy and financial situation.

Today, Hasbro is the largest licensor in the video game industry. However, it has always wanted to develop and publish its own titles, leveraging the power of brands like D&D and Monopoly. To achieve this, the company is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in creating internal studios and the infrastructure to manage them.

We traced the history of Hasbro's video gaming ambitions: from the unfortunate fate of Hasbro Interactive to its current transformation into a digital entertainment company. This article will explain the roles of Atari and Microprose in this story, how Baldur’s Gate 3 and Monopoly Go! have influenced the company's plans, how many studios and BioWare veterans are currently part of the Wizards of the Coast gaming division, and why video games are crucial for Hasbro's financial stability and future growth.

The topics covered in this article:

Hasbro’s early steps in the gaming industry: rapid growth and swift downfall
Turning point: the successes of Monopoly Go! and Baldur’s Gate 3
Hasbro's internal studios: a billion-dollar adventure
"Playing to win": the role of video games in Hasbro's restructuring