A Montreal hub for D&D in the digital era
Montreal will welcome a new studio from Wizards of the Coast, the Hasbro subsidiary behind the legendary Dungeons & Dragons franchise. The facility, slated to open in the summer of 2026, aims to grow the company’s digital game portfolio while expanding into other formats such as film. Over the next three years, the project targets approximately 200 new jobs, signaling a major investment in the city’s thriving game-development ecosystem.
Leading the initiative is Dan Ayoub, a veteran producer who previously helped shape titles at Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. Ayoub was named head of Dungeons & Dragons a couple of months ago, with a mission to broaden the franchise beyond its tabletop roots into video games and cinema. He noted that “Montreal is a natural fit to support the growth of our digital game activities. The talent, creativity and passion that characterize the metropolis will be essential for creating immersive stories and experiences for our players.” Ayoub also recalled returning to the city where his career began in 1999, describing the moment as “an incredible sensation” before the studio’s opening.
Strategic location and ecosystem
Situated in central Montreal, the new studio will be nearby Invoke Studios, a company Wizards of the Coast acquired in 2019. The proximity underscores Montreal’s status as a leading hub for game development, with a robust talent pool and a history of cross-pollination between studios. The company emphasizes that the studio’s location will help accelerate collaboration across its portfolio and leverage local know-how in narrative design, engineering and art direction.
Government support and industry momentum
The project is being developed with the support of Montréal International and Investissement Québec, the regional economic development bodies. Stéphane Paquet, CEO of Montréal International, highlighted that Wizards of the Coast’s choice signals the strength of Quebec’s game industry, an ecosystem home to about 250 studios and 15,000 skilled professionals who have contributed to AAA titles. The engagement reiterates the province’s ongoing appeal to major global players in interactive entertainment.
What might come next for the D&D universe
Donjons et Dragons has long enjoyed a storied place in video games, with titles that have helped popularize the brand beyond the tabletop. The success of Baldur’s Gate III by Larian Studios, including a studio with a Quebec footprint, has reinforced the potential for cross-media storytelling. While Larian has confirmed plans for a fourth Baldur’s Gate but indicated they are not currently collaborating with Wizards on that project, the Montreal studio could be involved in a next-gen Baldur’s Gate title or explore other new properties within the D&D universe. The studio’s exact project slate remains to be announced, but executives stress a strategy that blends narrative depth with accessible, player-friendly experiences across platforms.
Implications for Quebec and the broader industry
Reaction from Quebec’s gaming community has been cautiously optimistic. The Quebec Game Developers Guild welcomed the news, underscoring the continued attractiveness of the province for game-making even amid global industry volatility. The presence of a big-name studio like Wizards of the Coast is seen as a vote of confidence in the region’s ability to produce high-quality interactive content while creating meaningful employment opportunities for years to come.
Outlook
As Montreal prepares to host this new D&D studio, observers will watch how the team balances its multi-format ambitions — tabletop, video games, and potentially cinema — under one umbrella. The initiative aligns with a broader industry trend of cross-media storytelling and global co-production, positioning Montreal not only as a birthplace of creative talent but also as a strategic site for large-scale, cross-disciplinary franchises. Whether the team will return to classic IPs like Baldur’s Gate or chart entirely new territory, the project signals a pivotal moment for both Wizards of the Coast and Canada’s vibrant game development community.
