Wizards of the Coast Recruits Ex-Monolith Developers for Upcoming Project

Exciting Developments at Wizards of the Coast Following Monolith Productions Closure

The recent closure of Monolith Productions by Warner Bros.sent shockwaves through the gaming community. However, there’s a glimmer of hope as Wizards of the Coast, renowned for their tabletop games, has recruited a talented team of former developers, helmed by Michael de Plater.

Background of Michael de Plater and the New Team

Before joining Wizards of the Coast, de Plater and his team were involved with Cliffhanger Games, where they were developing the anticipated Black Panther game, which was ultimately canceled by Electronic Arts just months ago. With an impressive track record, de Plater previously contributed to the critically acclaimed titles Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) and its sequel Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017), solidifying his reputation in the industry.

Wizards of the Coast’s Vision and Future Projects

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, John Hight, president of Wizards of the Coast, expressed enthusiasm about integrating de Plater and 14 other key figures into their development team. Hight noted, “We’re super excited to have him as part of the team… We want to give him time. We’ll go through a fairly lengthy concept process where they’re going to look at a lot of different ideas.”

While specific details about their upcoming project remain under wraps, Hight indicated that it will embark on a concept development phase, drawing inspiration from a process similar to that utilized for Stig Asmussen’s Giant Skull project, which quickly progressed into developing a D&D action/adventure game.

Continued Investment in Video Games

Wizards of the Coast is ramping up its commitment to the gaming sector, with plans revealed by former president Chris Cocks (now CEO of Hasbro) to release one or two video games annually, commencing in late 2025 or early 2026. This strategic move is expected to bolster their presence in the interactive entertainment realm significantly.

Upcoming Projects in the Pipeline

The company is currently working on several intriguing projects, whether developed in-house or through external partnerships. These include:

A new D&D game from Invoke Studios
A cooperative D&D title by Starbreeze
A survival/life simulation/action RPG from Gameloft
The digital tabletop adventure DEMEO x DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: BATTLEMARKED
A D&D action/adventure game by Giant Skull
A sci-fi RPG titled Exodus in development at Archetype Entertainment
A GI Joe game being created at Atomic Arcade

It’s worth noting that a project from Skeleton Key was reportedly canceled earlier this year, highlighting the challenges and volatility in game development.

The gaming landscape continues to evolve, and as Wizards of the Coast navigates this transformation with new talent and innovative projects, fans can look forward to exciting developments in the near future.

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