Hasbro is pulling back from its ambitious video game publishing push after recording a $56 million (£41.9 million) write-down across its games portfolio, a plan that had originally been launched in 2022 in the wake of Baldur's Gate 3's success. The toy giant, which owns Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast, has already cancelled several projects and cut jobs, and CEO Chris Cocks has now signalled a narrower focus on established franchises rather than broad expansion into original gaming ventures. This matters because it marks a clear retreat from Hasbro's earlier ambitions to become a major force in video game publishing, with future investment concentrated on fewer, higher-confidence titles.

The write-down, described as a non-cash impairment charge, covers cancelled games originally slated for 2028 and beyond and was disclosed during Hasbro's second-quarter 2026 earnings call. Despite the cuts, Cocks confirmed that two key projects remain on track for 2027 release and have entered their "finishing phases": the Mass Effect-style sci-fi RPG Exodus and the newly announced Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons. He cited Magic: The Gathering Arena, Monopoly Go and Baldur's Gate 3 as models for future investment, prioritising Magic, D&D, owned platforms and partner-led projects. Other casualties include an unannounced D&D action game from Stig Asmussen's Giant Skull studio, whose team is still seeking a new publisher, while a Baldur's Gate 3 sequel remains unconfirmed despite over two years of talks with potential partners.