New Wizards of the Coast President is a Former Senior Blizzard Executive

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New Wizards of the Coast President is a Former Senior Blizzard Executive

Highlights

  • John Hight, former Warcraft GM, now heads Wizards of the Coast, focusing on Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
  • Hight brings his game dev experience and passion as a fan to lead Hasbro’s gaming studios and digital licensing agreements.
  • Hight’s arrival at Wizards of the Coast may bring significant changes, following a history of controversies at the company.

As a long-time gamer and follower of the tabletop and video game industries, I’m thrilled to see John Hight, a true industry veteran, stepping into the role of President at Wizards of the Coast. With his extensive background in gaming, from developing AAA titles like “Neverwinter Nights,” “God of War 3,” and “Command and Conquer,” to his time as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Blizzard’s “Warcraft” franchise, Hight brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Wizards of the Coast.

John Hight, who previously held the positions of senior vice president and general manager for the “Warcraft” franchise, has been appointed as the new president of “Wizards of the Coast”. In his new role, he will be part of the executive team at “Wizards of the Coast”, contributing to the creation of “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Magic: The Gathering”. Additionally, he will manage Hasbro’s video gaming projects as a whole.

More recently, Hight revealed his decision to leave Blizzard following a distinguished 12-year tenure. Throughout his service, Hight contributed significantly to around five expansions of “World of Warcraft,” “Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls,” and managed the development process for both “Hearthstone” and “Warcraft Rumble.” Known for his positive attitude and calm demeanor, Hight was among the vocal advocates for restoring Blizzard’s reputation amidst various controversies and disapproved design choices.

As someone who has always been passionate about tabletop gaming and the magic of bringing stories to life through digital platforms, I couldn’t be more thrilled about Chris Cocks, formerly of Sony Interactive Entertainment, joining Hasbro as the president of Wizards of the Coast and the company’s Digital Gaming branch. With a rich background in gaming and entertainment industries, his expertise and leadership will undoubtedly take Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering to new heights.

Former Warcraft GM John Hight is Now President of WotC

Prior to joining Blizzard, Hight held various roles that made him an ideal candidate for the company. He served as a board member at the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, instructed game development classes at the USC School of Cinematics, and contributed to developing high-profile games such as “Neverwinter Nights,” “God of War 3,” and “Command and Conquer.” Additionally, Hight’s passion for tabletop games like “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Magic: The Gathering” further solidified his suitability for this role.

Hight’s joining Wizards of the Coast is certain to bring about significant shifts within the company, particularly in the realm of video games. It’s only natural to anticipate that he will leverage his game development background to build upon the success of “Baldur’s Gate 3” by introducing new digital projects for “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Magic: The Gathering.”

In more simplified terms, Wizards of the Coast has faced numerous controversies leading to criticism in recent years. These include layoffs, increased prices on smaller items, hiring private security against a fan, disputes over the Open Gaming License, and issues with AI-generated art. The company has received significant negative attention as a result. Fingers crossed that Hight, who played a key role in helping Blizzard recover from its own crises, can do the same for Wizards of the Coast.

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2024-07-19 03:35