Hasbro's OGL DnD Monopoly: Impact on the Gaming Community and Third-Party Content Creators

(A long standing customer opinion piece article.)

Hasbro, the multinational toy and board game company, has come under fire in recent years for its monopolistic licensing practices and control over popular gaming brands such as Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) and Magic the Gathering. The company's acquisition of these brands, through its subsidiary Wizards of the Coast (WotC), has led to a creative stranglehold on the gaming community and a decline in the support for independent content creators and third-party companies.

One of the most recent controversies surrounding Hasbro and WotC is the Open Gaming License (OGL) debacle and the company's plans for its DnD Beyond website. The OGL is a set of guidelines that allows third-party companies to create and publish content for DnD, but Hasbro's recent changes to the license have been met with backlash from the gaming community. The company's plans for DnD Beyond, a website that provides digital tools and resources for players, has also raised concerns about the potential alienation of current customers and the impact on third-party companies.

Hasbro and WotC have also been criticized for their stance on inclusivity and diversity within the gaming community. Despite claiming to be woke and inclusive, the company has been accused of having internal problems with editing, quality assurance, and product development that have missed half of their own taboo content. This hypocrisy has led to accusations that the company is not genuinely committed to stamping out offensive content and promoting a diverse and inclusive community.

The DnD brand, which has been a staple of the gaming community for decades, has also been criticized for its lack of support for languages other than English. The brand should already be available in other regions and languages, such as Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Russian, but this support has been lacking for decades. This lack of support for non-English speaking countries and cultures highlights the company's lack of understanding of the global market and its failure to adapt to the changing needs of the gaming community.

Hasbro's business model, which seems to prioritize profits over the needs of the community, has led to a decline in the support for the DnD brand. The company's greed and lack of a moral compass have led to a loss of trust and support from the gaming community. The company's recent moves have also led to a decline in the support for independent content creators and third-party companies.

Some former employees of WotC have also spoken out against the company's practices and have gone on to form their own companies with a different vision and values. This highlights the dissatisfaction and discontent among current and former employees of Hasbro and WotC, and raises questions about the company's internal culture.

It is clear that Hasbro's current business model is not sustainable and that the company needs to re-evaluate its priorities and values if it wants to regain the support of the gaming community. If these moves are part of a long-term strategy, it will be at least 15 years before the company can hope to regain its place in the spotlight.

"Hasbro puts the "M" in Monopoly but does not like the "C" word unless it is Coin, Control, and Copyright. Content Creator, Community, and Customer are considered taboo and a challenge to their own internal company goals."

Disclaimer:

This article is not affiliated or the express opinion of the Fantasy Grounds Unity VTT platform or of Smiteworks LLC. This is strictly a personal Blog content article based on current events and past observations from a consumer standpoint or point of view.