Hasbro’s Latest Blunder: D&D Creative Director Quits After 28 Years

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In my previous piece, I discussed Hasbro’s tendency to exploit its golden geese. Just as I wrapped up that article, it seems they’ve done it again, this time targeting one of their most profitable brands – Dungeons & Dragons.

According to a post he made himself, Christopher Perkins has publicly stated that he plans to step down from his position as Creative Director within the Dungeons & Dragons division at Hasbro Inc., which is the company responsible for the extensive Dungeons & Dragons intellectual property.

What’s the significance here? This individual was one of the original few who had been associated with the franchise for close to 28 years. He initially made a name for himself as a writer for Dungeon Magazine back in 1988, later rising to the position of editor-in-chief for Wizard’s publications. Subsequently, he shifted his focus to the development of the D&D game itself, starting as a senior producer and then moving on to become the story manager for the fourth edition in 2007, before eventually becoming the senior story designer in 2018.

Following his tenure, he eventually rose to the position of Game Design Architect, which was later followed by his promotion to Creative Director. Throughout his extensive career with the franchise, he additionally ran a blog titled “The Dungeon Master Experience” for more than two years and contributed to numerous independent adventure modules.

It’s quite plausible that the reason Chris gave for quitting DnD is indeed the reason – after 28 years, it could simply be fatigue that led him to seek more family time instead.

Instead, the manner in which Wizards of the Coast seem to be deliberately sidelining, omitting, and distancing themselves from individuals who were integral to the game during its early years, such as Gary Gygax, his son Ernie G. Gygax Jr., and Rob Kuntz because of their “controversial backgrounds,” it’s plausible that Chris was also excluded from Dungeons & Dragons by Hasbro for similar reasons.

Should it be so, it would indeed be regrettable, not only for the numerous athletes who looked up to him throughout almost three decades, but also for the team itself.

It’s become apparent, from observing similar situations with successful intellectual properties, that abandoning the innovative minds who have nurtured and grown these franchises usually results in catastrophe. For instance, it seems like the Star Wars saga has faced such challenges after parting ways with its original creative forces.

It’s uncertain if Chris continues to serve as a creative advisor for both Hasbro and Wizards, but if they have let him go and wish to maximize profits from one of their few profitable properties, they should act swiftly to rehire him.

At first glance, Chris’s predicament with Dungeons & Dragons appears strikingly alike to that of John Warden, a notable figure whom Hasbro abruptly dismissed, often referred to as one of their ‘golden geese’.

John took on the role as the design head for the Transformers toy series in 2014, following his initial work on Hasbro’s Star Wars and G.I. Joe lines. He is recognized for revitalizing the Transformers toy line with the highly successful War for Cybertron trilogies, whose design principles are still in use today. Moreover, he was instrumental in the launch of Hasbro’s first crowd-funded Transformer, the colossal planetary devourer, Unicron.

To recognize his achievements, Hasbro shifted him from his previous role to lead their struggling Power Rangers and Ghostbusters intellectual properties globally, with the aim of reviving them. However, in 2024, Hasbro brought him back to work on Transformers and G.I Joe as the Director of Product Design, hoping to reignite the popularity of these brands once more.

I’ve heard it whispered that they’ve devised an integrated plan, merging the worlds of Transformers and G.I. Joe seamlessly, a move that seems to align perfectly with the recent revelation from Hasbro about their upcoming Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover film.

After 25 years of dedicated service, Hasbro unexpectedly terminated him in October during their latest series of redundancies, as Warden put it, “We didn’t have much notice and it felt like a sudden blow.

These actions seem to align with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks’ unconventional strategy of distancing Hasbro from toy production. However, the dismissal of Warden and Chris Perkins’ departure can be seen as a corporate equivalent of cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. It’s highly likely that these brands will struggle once again in their absence.

Following his termination, Warden established a GoFundMe to assist with his family’s medical bills, which were generously supported by dedicated fans, ultimately reaching its goal. In even more positive developments, it appears he’s found new opportunities as he’s now collaborating with The Loyal Subjects on their newly announced Mobile Armored Strike Kommand (M.A.S.K.) toy line. Interestingly enough, the manufacture of this line has been licensed from Hasbro themselves.

It’s challenging to predict the future direction for Hasbro, as their latest moves don’t seem to instill much trust.

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2025-04-16 16:57