D&D’s virtual tabletop, Sigil, faced significant setbacks shortly after its launch. Layoffs were reported, affecting approximately 90% of its development team. According to a LinkedIn post by Andy Collins, the former senior writer for Sigil, the project’s lofty goals for a monetization plan were ultimately unmet.

According to an internal memo shared by an anonymous employee, Sigil’s ambitious plans for growth faltered, leading to a drastic reduction in personnel. The memo emphasized the lack of clear vision from leadership regarding Sigil’s future, culminating in the decision to transition it into a more sustainable feature within D&D Beyond, rather than continuing as an independent project. Many of the departing team members will receive severance packages and support as they transition out.

The memo stated:

“Hasbro treated Sigil like a video game instead of a VTT, and at no point cared to understand the difference.” Translation: Hasbro approached Sigil as if it were a regular video game rather than a virtual tabletop experience, failing to grasp the nuances involved.

In recent evaluations, it became apparent that corporate expectations regarding the revenue generation of Sigil greatly misjudged the market’s potential. The response to its operational plan has been mixed, with many noting a fundamental misunderstanding of the product’s nature by Hasbro. Despite the team’s efforts, it appears that many uncertainties ultimately led to the project’s downward trajectory.