This was posted by a very, well informed and respected gamer that has his own site and posts emails weekly to the community about gaming news. Interesting read!
I'd like to cover something a bit controversial. On my mind of late has been, "The fall of the Roman empire" "What is the fate of D&D and tabletop RPGs? Is this the end of our beloved hobby?"
Because, it's looking a bit grim for D&D game masters these days due to corporate greed. Hasbro, the company that owns D&D, continues to send signals that they don't care about, nor want, pen and paper game masters any more.
First, it was leaked that Hasbro has set an ambitious goal of turning D&D into a one billion dollar a year business using Magic the Gathering as the business model (e.g., going digital and milking customers with microtransactions).
Then, during Christmas of 2022, Hasbro tried to revoke the Open Gaming License, potentially sabotaging numerous game companies, creators, and especially, communities that Hasbro does not control.
Next, they revealed their new VTT software that integrates with D&D Beyond. It seems microtransactions will be heavily aimed at players. We're not sure yet exactly how it'll work, but think about how allowing players to buy their own magic items and whatnot will affect our agency as GMs.
Finally, this past month, Hasbro severed ties with Penguin and will handle book distribution internally. Losing the economies of scale Penguin offers will jack up book prices. In fact, Hasbro has stated that they see paper books in the future as being mere "specialty collector's items."
Truly grim portents indeed when the parent company is being pushed to make its profits from movies, video games, and microtransactions, leaving the tabletop RPG design division in last place.
Now, I'm not all doom and gloom on what Hasbro will do to us for One D&D, their next D&D edition coming out in 2024. I'm treating all rumours and speculation with a grain of salt. But, Hasbro my dude, if you keep punching me in the face, I'm going to start suspecting you don't want to be friends any more. :)
Yea it is sad. But the newer generation, just does so much stuff online. There are 2 companies that have platforms for online D&D. It was only a matter of time, that WoTC get a piece of it, and try and corner that type of market. I have watched a few videos of there program and it looks great. But to me it just like a video game. Our game allows me to break away from the computer/phone/ internet for a few fours , which is a welcoming relief. New generation, I guess doesnt see it that way.