The Business: The Official Denial Is The Confirmation

Be it corporate business or government agency, one of the most cynical Rules Of Thumb is that nothing is confirmed until it is officially denied.

"We don’t make a habit of commenting on internet rumors, but to be clear: we are not looking to sell our D&D IP." https://t.co/hMeEMVBoGs

— Niche Gamer (@nichegamer) February 1, 2024

*ahem*

Remember what I said yesterday.

Tencent does not need to go through with the deal for the message to be sent. This is communication of intent in a deniable fashion.

WOTC and Hasbro have signed off on the plan to abandon tabletop for vidya. This is now confirmed as happening.

Selling to Tencent is just another layer of protection from accountability for the inevitable damage that will be done by doing so, but it is not necessary; no one harmed by this move pose a viable threat to either party, so this is just a Nice To Have, but not a Need To Have for them.

The Cargo Cult is coping, as I've come to expect, but they still have not come to terms that Conventional Play Is Done.

This is because they still have not accepted--not even after having the proof shoved in their face for 25 years--that Current Edition (so far as Conventional Play is concerned) is The Only Game That Matters.

As Current Edition goes, so goes Conventional Play. Once Current Edition abandons tabletop Conventional Play will also- and those that refuse get left behind to wither and die.

Post-Media Shift Players Cutting Off Refusniks From Conventional Play, Dramatized

Some people need to find out the hard way.

Yes, DriveThruRPG is on the chopping block now. This means all you OSR guys are going to have to come back to Captain Harlock sooner or later, and you're going to have to learn the ways of Guerilla POD listings to scratch that itch when you're priced out of the used book market.

The business is done. The hobby is returning to the Clubhouse. The Tourists and Casuals will follow Current Edition to vidya, which does Conventional Play better in all ways, so the Cargo Cult loses its supply of new players. Either the Cult has a Come To Jesus moment with the #BROSR, repents, and returns to the Clubhouse or it follows Current Edition to vidya and ends up dissolving therein because there is no way to enforce their norms therein.

Either result is fine with me. This is a hobby to be enjoyed as leisure, not a revenue generator for Grindset Enjoyers, and a long-ago error is about to be corrected.