In its latest earnings report, Hasbro has written down $56 million in impairment charges that are related to its “refocused Digital Games portfolio for 2028 and beyond”. This is the consequence of the company cancelling projects that were in development as part of its larger push into video games. However, the company hasn’t yet confirmed which projects it has cancelled, while Exodus and Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons are confirmed as still being in development and on track for their respective releases in 2027.
“Over the last several quarters, we have reviewed our portfolio and updated our plans for Hasbro’s digital future,” said CEO Chris Cocks. “That work included cancelling several games scheduled for release in 2028 and beyond and recording a $56 million non-cash write-down this quarter for related capitalized costs.”
“The write-down reflects the standard we are applying to our portfolio. We are focusing our digital investment behind the franchises, platforms, and partners where we see the clearest upside and where Hasbro has the strongest right to win. Four priorities will guide our digital strategy: focus, cost discipline, ownable platforms, and partnership.”
Offering more details on the company’s future plans, Cocks pointed to the success of the Scopely-developed Monopoly Go! as an example of what the company wants. This means that Hasbro will continue working with similar studios, like TripleDot, Gameberry Labs, Ubisoft, and Gameloft, as part of its digital strategy.
“We are taking lower conviction projects out of the portfolio, reducing our annual spend base and concentrating investment behind the places where Hasbro has the best chance to build durable digital franchises: Magic[: The Gathering], D&D, owned platforms, partner-led economics, and a concentrated number of high-conviction owned titles.”
Cocks’ statement makes it seem like Hasbro wants to chase the high-revenue realm of mobile gaming so it can potentially replicate Monopoly Go!’s success. Whether this means that the company will ultimately step back from its console gaming ambitions following the release of Exodus and Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons remains to be seen.
It is worth noting that Hasbro had cancelled an in-development Dungeons & Dragons-based project that was being worked on by Giant Skull. Founded by industry veteran Stig Asmussen, the studio’s current status is unknown. In a statement, Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast said that it decided “not to pursue an early concept from Giant Skull” while maintaining that it still had “great respect” for Asmussen and his team.
In the meantime, game director Chris King had confirmed last month that Exodus is in its final stages of development. The title will put players in the shoes of a salvager named Jun Aslan and will revolve around the protagonist setting off on a quest to find a solution to a plague ravaging their home world, referred to as the Rot.
Exodus is being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, and in the meantime, developer Archetype Entertainment has continued to provide plenty of teases about what players can expect. For more details on the sci-fi RPG, check out why we’re excited about it.
