Hasbro Abandons Plans for Dungeons & Dragons' Immersive Digital Playground
In an unexpected turn of events, Hasbro's much-anticipated Sigil 3D virtual tabletop tool seems to be on the brink of a revamp. After a rocky public playtest, marked by a chaotic launch and criticism for its unfinished state, it appears that Sigil is set to make a comeback as part of the existing D&D Beyond virtual tabletop system, Maps.
According to Rascal News, an internal memo from Wizards of the Coast confirms the transition of Sigil to a D&D Beyond feature. The plan is to release the already developed extra content at no additional cost to users, while the majority of the Sigil team is said to be parting ways with the company this week.
Disheartened by the news, Design Lead Andy Collins, a WOTC game rules specialist and previously the head of the Sigil team, shared a LinkedIn post detailing the layoffs, stating that around 30 people, including himself, were affected, representing roughly 90% of the development team.
Originally unveiled in the summer of 2024, Sigil was touted as a gamified VTT system developed in Unreal Engine 5, allowing players and Dungeon Masters to create customizable, fully 3D maps and environments for D&D games. It also promised access to high-quality D&D character models, notably including Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion and Karlach, leveraging the viral success of Larian's 2023 smash-hit CRPG.
However, after its much-publicized reveal, Wizards of the Coast struggled to demonstrate the full potential of Sigil, culminating in the launch of a publicly accessible playtest in February 2025, which was met with criticism for its buggy nature and limited functionality, disappointing fans who had hoped for a grand vision.
Reports from Rascal further suggest that Sigil's development was marred by a lack of clear vision, disagreements between Hasbro's upper management, and the Sigil development team, and even an internal rift with the D&D Beyond team as they developed the Maps VTT system.
With a reduced workforce, the remaining Sigil team will work closely with the D&D Beyond team to integrate what's left of Sigil's vision into its existing form. As more details emerge, we'll keep you updated on Wizards' plans for Sigil.
In the meantime, keep an eye on the latest developments in the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek universes, the future of the DC Universe on film and TV, and the future of Doctor Who. Stay tuned for more io9 news!
- io9 reporters are following the developments of Hasbro's Sigil 3D virtual tabletop tool, which is rumored to be integrating into D&D Beyond's Maps system, previously considered a competitor.
- Despite the chaotic launch and criticism during its public playtest, the revamped Sigil promises customizable, 3D maps and environments for D&D games, with extra content to be released for no additional cost.
- However, earlier reports suggest that Sigil's development was marred by internal disagreements and a lack of clear vision, resulting in layoffs affecting around 30 people, including Design Lead Andy Collins.
- In the midst of these changes, fans are keeping an eye on the future of Tabletop RPGs, especially as the Sigil team works to merge what's left of its vision into D&D Beyond.
