Cynthia Williams, president of Wizards of the Coast, is stepping down after just two years in charge, with her departure confirmed alongside news that parent company Hasbro has taken a $56 million (about £44 million) financial charge relating to cancelled video game projects. Her brief tenure was nonetheless a pivotal one for the company, encompassing significant changes to both of its flagship franchises, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, and her exit comes as Hasbro continues to grapple with financial pressures across its games division.

During Williams' time in charge, Magic: The Gathering expanded heavily into "Universes Beyond" crossover sets, which blend the game with outside properties such as film, television and other franchises, a strategy that has proved commercially successful but divisive among some long-time players. Dungeons & Dragons, meanwhile, saw the rollout of revised 2024 core rulebooks, often dubbed "D&D 5.5e" by fans, updating the game's fifth edition rules. Hasbro's $56 million charge relates separately to scrapped video game titles, underlining wider cost pressures at the company, though the report does not draw a direct causal link between the cancellations and Williams' departure.