The parent company behind Dungeons & Dragons has moved to outright acquire the game’s most popular digital toolset.
D&D Beyond, currently operated by the entertainment wiki service Fandom, announced that it’s officially joining Wizards of the Coast, as Wizards’ owner Hasbro plans to acquire Beyond.
In an official press release, Hasbro announced that it will pay $146.3 million in cash for D&D Beyond, describing it as a “strategic acquisition” that will add talent to the Wizards team and strengthen Hasbro’s moves into digital tabletop gaming. The acquisition is set to be completed later this year.
Beyond is one of several officially-licensed digital companion services that have arisen in recent years to make life easier for players of Dungeons & Dragons. Through its website and a companion app, Beyond offers tools like character and encounter builders, spell lists, and a new player guide, which can all come in very handy for a game as big and sprawling as modern D&D.
Additionally, Beyond broadcasts its own original D&D-themed videos and streams, such as Dungeon Master tips, behind-the-scenes features, and live play shows. While many of Beyond’s tools are free or available after registering a free account, it also offers a subscription service and sells digital versions of official Wizards of the Coast D&D sourcebooks.
According to the press release announcing the acquisition of D&D Beyond, Wizards estimated that as many as 80% of Dungeons & Dragons players were playing the game virtually in 2021.
The purchase of D&D Beyond is undergoing regulatory review, and is expected to conclude in the second or third quarter this year.
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