Hasbro to Buy the Popular DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Tool Set D&D Beyond for $146.3 Million
Hasbro recently announced that it is set to acquire D&D Beyond, which is the biggest and most popular digital toolset and game companion for the fantasy adventure franchise Dungeons & Dragons. D&D Beyond has been owned and operated by Fandom since 2019, and they built it up to be the leading role-playing game digital toolset on the market with close to 10 million registered users.
Hasbro will purchase D&D Beyond for $146.3 million in cash, and it will “further strengthen Hasbro’s capabilities in the fast-growing digital tabletop category while also adding veteran talents to the Wizards of the Coast team and accelerating efforts to deliver exceptional experiences for fans across all platforms.”
The press release shares: “Since 2017, D&D Beyond has helped to power Dungeons & Dragons tabletop play and deliver the brand's eighth consecutive year of growth in 2021. Over the last three years, the royalty paid to Hasbro by D&D Beyond has represented a significant contribution to the fastest growing source of revenue for Dungeons & Dragons. The strategic acquisition of D&D Beyond will deliver a direct relationship with fans, providing valuable, data-driven insights to unlock opportunities for growth in new product development, live services and tools, and regional expansions. As part of Wizards, the brand’s leadership will soon be able to drive a unified, player-centric vision of the world’s greatest role-playing game on all platforms.”
Chris Cocks, Hasbro Chief Executive Officer said in a statement, “The acquisition of D&D Beyond will accelerate our progress in both gaming and direct to consumer, two priority areas of growth for Hasbro, providing immediate access to a loyal, growing player base. Hasbro’s gaming portfolio is among the largest and most profitable in the industry, and we continue to make strategic investments to grow our brands, including in digital.”
Perkins Miller, CEO of Fandom added, “This is the perfect next step for the talented D&D Beyond team, who built a transformative digital product that engaged and delighted millions of D&D fans around the world. We can't wait to see what this team will do next as an integral part of the D&D franchise, and I look forward to investing in more brands and products to super serve Fandom’s 300 million+ global fans.”
Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming went on to say, “D&D Beyond has been one of our most valuable partners in the digital space for the past six years and we’re excited to bring their best-in-class talent onto our team. The team at D&D Beyond has built an incredible digital platform, and together we will deliver the best-possible Dungeons & Dragons experience for players around the world.”
This acquisition will accelerate D&D’s ability to penetrate new markets, gather valuable consumer insights and provide players with the best gaming experience on all platforms.