Hasbro has announced ambitious plans for its video game division, revealing a $1 billion investment to develop traditional, big-budget games based on its iconic franchises, including Transformers. The company is steering clear of live service projects, focusing instead on single-player action-adventure and role-playing games.
New Transformers Game in Development
In an interview with The Game Business, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks hinted at a new Transformers game in the works, alongside titles based on other popular properties like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. 'We'll be building games mostly around Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Transformers, maybe some of our other properties,' Cocks said. 'It'll be very focused on action adventure and role-playing games for PC and console.'
Hasbro's internal game development effort began in 2018 with the formation of six studios. The first two projects, revealed at The Game Awards 2025, include the Mass Effect-like RPG Exodus (launching this year) and the third-person action game Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons (scheduled for 2027). The new Transformers title is expected to follow these releases.
Avoiding Live Service Pitfalls
Cocks expressed caution about live service games, noting the high risk of failure. 'You can invest $100 million to build a really great mobile game or a games-as-a-service shooter, and the upside is you make billions. But how many people achieve that upside? It's very low single-digit percentages,' he explained. Instead, Hasbro aims to deliver 'good games that deliver a nice 40 to 50-hours' worth of content set at a fair price.'
This strategy marks a shift from Hasbro's previous approach of licensing its franchises to other developers. The company now seeks to build its own internal capabilities, with a long-term pipeline spanning a decade. Cocks assured that Hasbro won't abandon the venture at the first sign of trouble, emphasizing patience and a commitment to quality.
Other Franchises and Future Plans
Hasbro owns a vast portfolio of brands, including Power Rangers, G.I. Joe, My Little Pony, Peppa Pig, and numerous board games. While the focus is on internal development for core franchises, the company will continue to partner with external studios for casual and mobile games. Cocks also hinted at potential projects for Baldur's Gate 4, though he noted that such a game cannot be rushed if it is to match the quality of Baldur's Gate 3.
Fans of Transformers have long awaited a big-budget video game, with the last major entries being the War for Cybertron duology from the Xbox 360 era. Rumors of a re-release of those games, along with PlatinumGames' Transformers Devastation, have circulated but remain unconfirmed. With Hasbro's renewed investment, the future looks promising for the franchise.
