Despite some canceled games, including those in development by Hidden Path and Otherside Entertainment, Wizards of the Coast remains strongly invested in the D&D brand for its video gaming sector.
At GDC 2024, Dan Ayoub, Head of Digital Product Development (previously at Microsoft), discussed the diverse range of Dungeons and Dragons experiences that will be available to gamers during an interview with Gamespot.
When creating a D&D game, we collaborate closely with the D&D team to ensure alignment with their future releases and overall strategy. Our game types and roadmaps are connected to the larger D&D strategy, so there may be some similarities, but this is intentional. We value our studios’ creative freedom while still adhering to the overarching plan. As a result, players can expect to see a diverse range of D&D experiences in the future.
It was revealed by Ayoub that Faerûn and its Forgotten Realms would not be the sole focus of these games, which is intriguing. Although the Forgotten Realms remain the top choice for Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts, there are numerous other settings available, including Greyhawk, Mystara, Eberron, Ravenloft, and Spelljammer, to mention a few.
Currently, the only information we have regarding the co-op game that Starbreeze announced in December and is set to be released in 2026 is that it will take place in Waterdeep, one of the largest cities in Faerûn. The setting for the D&D VR game, which was announced by Resolution Games in January, is still unknown, as is the setting for the new Dungeons and Dragons Unreal Engine 5 game being developed by Invoke (formerly known as Tuque, the studio behind Dark Alliance). However, according to a recent job posting for a Principal Gameplay Programmer at Invoke, there may be potential for PvP modes in the latter project.
Having a passion for multiplayer and PVP live games is considered to be a positive attribute.
While PvP is typically not well-suited for D&D, it is possible that the creators are experimenting with an asymmetrical 1v4 multiplayer format in which one player takes on the role of the Dungeon Master and tries to impede the progress of the group of heroes.
In total, Wizards of the Coast is dedicating more than one billion dollars to its various gaming studios in North America. In addition to the previously mentioned D&D games, there are also exciting projects in the works such as the expansive sci-fi RPG Exodus being developed by Archetype Entertainment, a game centered around G.I. Joe’s Snake Eyes being created by Atomic Arcade, and a horror game currently in development at Skeleton Key.
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