D&D, Magic: Will Elon Musk Buy Hasbro?

Could the world’s wealthiest man, known for revolutionizing electric vehicles and space travel, now set his sights on the realm of tabletop gaming?

The speculation began – how could it be otherwise – on X. Musk responded to a post criticizing Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, the subsidiary responsible for Dungeons & Dragons, for their perceived mishandling of the franchise’s legacy. In a tone that was equal parts incredulous and fiery, Musk wrote:

If you thought this outburst was simply Musk venting frustration, you’d be wrong. Shortly after, Musk dropped a tweet that sent the internet into a frenzy:

That one sentence fueled widespread speculation that Musk, a man with a penchant for bold moves and even bolder claims, might actually be considering buying the Rhode Island-based toy and entertainment giant.

For context, Hasbro is no small fry in the world of games and entertainment. With a market capitalization hovering around $9 billion, the company oversees an empire that includes not just Dungeons & Dragons, but also Magic the Gathering, My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, and many other household names. Founded in 1923, Hasbro has long been a cornerstone of the toy and game industry, but its recent decisions—particularly regarding Dungeons & Dragons—have been met with criticism from fans. Musk’s sharp words reflect a growing dissatisfaction with how Hasbro has allegedly commercialized and diluted the spirit of the legendary tabletop role-playing game, which first captured imaginations in the 1970s.

But let’s not forget the other piece of this puzzle: Musk’s recent announcement of an AI-driven game studio under his new venture, xAI. According to Musk, this studio will focus on creating games that “make games great again”. While the specifics remain vague, Musk has hinted at using advanced AI to create immersive worlds and experiences unlike anything currently on the market. Given the explosion in popularity of Dungeons & Dragons, thanks in part to cultural touchstones like Stranger Things, an acquisition of Hasbro could grant Musk the keys to one of the most iconic franchises in gaming history. Imagine a Musk-powered D&D, complete with AI-driven dungeon masters and procedurally generated quests.

So, is this all just a pipe dream? It’s hard to say. Musk is no stranger to bold declarations, some of which come to fruition, while others fizzle out as Twitter fodder. His history of teasing acquisitions is well-documented, from his infamous “funding secured” tweet about taking Tesla private to his on-again, off-again purchase of Twitter itself. Musk thrives on stirring up excitement, and his 160-million-plus Twitter followers are more than happy to speculate on his every word.

Nevertheless, the very idea of Musk taking control of Hasbro has sparked excitement among fans and investors alike. Hasbro’s stock saw a modest bump following Musk’s comments, which speaks to his power to influence markets and public perception. Even if Musk never makes a move, the buzz he generates could have a ripple effect on Hasbro’s future decisions, particularly when it comes to how it handles beloved properties like Dungeons & Dragons.