John Hight, president of Wizards of the Coast, is stepping down from the role effective September 1, according to a filing made with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27. Hight took the position in August 2024 after leaving Blizzard Entertainment, where he had spent nearly 13 years, including a long stint as general manager of Warcraft.
Hight will not leave the company entirely. Per PC Gamer, he and Hasbro have entered a 'Transitional Advisory Services Agreement' under which he will serve as an advisor to the CEO for up to a year after stepping down, unless terminated earlier. He will reportedly continue earning his $800,000 salary in this advisory capacity, though PC Gamer notes he will no longer be eligible for the unspecified annual cash bonuses tied to his prior role.
In a statement provided to GamesIndustry.biz and shared across outlets, Wizards of the Coast said it is 'deeply grateful' for Hight's leadership and contributions, and that he will 'continue to support Wizards in an advisory capacity while pursuing other creative and professional opportunities he's passionate about.' The company added that there is 'no change to the strength of the Wizards business,' stating that Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons continue to perform well and that its 2027 video game slate, including Exodus and Warlock, remains on track. A search for Hight's successor, both internal and external, is now underway.
During his tenure, Hight oversaw the transition to D&D's 5.5 edition and placed a heavy emphasis on Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond initiative, which has brought numerous crossovers into the card game. Reception to this push has been mixed within the community, though GamesRadar+ cites Magic head designer Mark Rosewater, who wrote that the initiative has fundamentally changed the game and argued that 'once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it's just not going back in.'
The leadership change comes about a week after Hasbro disclosed a $56 million impairment charge connected to the cancellation of several in-development video games slated for 2028 and beyond. Confirmed cancellations include a D&D game being developed by Stig Asmussen's Giant Skull studio, while a long-planned G.I. Joe game also appears troubled, though Hasbro has said it has not been cancelled. Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks previously said 2026 would mark the company's 'peak year for digital investment,' with a goal to cut digital spending by at least 25% by 2028, suggesting a broader pullback from conventional game development.
Rock Paper Shotgun notes that Hight's exit also comes amid a significant unionization push among developers on Magic: The Gathering Arena. Workers on the digital card game formed a union earlier this year in partnership with the Communications Workers of America, and the union, now called United Wizards of the Coast, was officially elected in June after what RPS describes as largely absent communication from Wizards of the Coast following the initial unionization effort.