Wizards of the Coast hires Blizzard veteran Paul Della Bitta to head up games arm - GamesIndustry.biz

Wizards of the Coast taps Blizzard veteran Paul Della Bitta to lead Digital Ventures games push

Wizards of the Coast has appointed Paul Della Bitta to head its Digital Ventures division, signaling a deeper push into AAA games under parent company Hasbro. Bloomberg reports he will report to company president John Hight.

Key updates

• Leadership hire: Della Bitta, a Blizzard alum with more than a decade across two stints, also held roles at Superplay, Molten Games, and Riot, and co-founded Dreamhaven where he led publishing.
• Archetype shift: James Ohlen, co-founder of Archetype Entertainment (Exodus), is stepping aside from day-to-day leadership. He remains a creative consultant and is refocusing on tabletop RPGs.
• Timeline for releases: Exodus, Archetype’s debut, is slated for early 2027. Wizards also announced Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons from Invoke Studios at The Game Awards 2025, targeting 2027.
• Strategic context: Hasbro continues to chase a stronger foothold in the AAA space, previously stating it has $1 billion invested in in-development projects.

Why it matters

• Experienced leadership: Della Bitta brings deep live-service, publishing, and franchise experience to Wizards’ expanding games portfolio.
• Archetype continuity: Despite Ohlen stepping back, Hasbro says the team is well-positioned to handle final polish and tuning on Exodus, maintaining momentum toward launch.
• Building transmedia IP: Archetype GM and co-founder Chad Robertson describes Exodus as the “tip of the spear” for Hasbro’s broader AAA ambitions, designed to span beyond games into wider IP opportunities.

Background and timeline

• Ohlen joined Wizards in 2019 after retiring from BioWare in 2018; Archetype was announced in January 2020.
• Exodus was unveiled at The Game Awards 2023; at this year’s show, the studio confirmed an early 2027 launch window.
• Wizards’ 2025 announcements also included Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons from Invoke Studios, likewise planned for 2027.

Source: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/wizards-of-the-coast-hires-blizzard-veteran-paul-della-bitta-to-head-up-games-arm