John Hight, president of Wizards of the Coast, will be stepping down from his role effective September 1. The transition was disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing on July 27th. Hight will remain with the company in an advisory capacity while pursuing other professional interests.
Hight assumed the presidency approximately two years ago, in August 2024. His departure follows a recent $56 million impairment charge taken by Wizards of the Coast's parent company, Hasbro. A statement from Wizards of the Coast, provided to GamesIndustry.biz, expressed gratitude for Hight's leadership and contributions to the company's games and teams. The company affirmed that this change in leadership will not affect the strength of the Wizards business, noting that Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons continue to perform strongly, consistent with recent earnings reports. The company's upcoming 2027 video game slate, including titles like Exodus and Warlock, also remains on track.
Wizards of the Coast has initiated both internal and external searches for Hight's successor. The company has indicated that further updates will be shared as appropriate. This leadership change occurs amidst a significant unionization effort by the development team behind Magic: The Gathering Arena. Earlier this year, these developers formed a union, now known as United Wizards of the Coast, in conjunction with the Communications Workers of America. Following initial communication challenges, the union was officially elected in June.