Sigil appears destined to a gradual, spiraling demise after layoffs hit the workforce overseeing the mission. In a single day, information broke that roughly 90% of the workforce liable for constructing Sigil, Wizards of the Coast‘s new VTT, was let go shortly after the system’s public launch. The model of Sigil made out there to the general public was clearly a piece in progress – not solely did it require a pc with vital specs to run, it was additionally solely out there on Home windows computer systems. The layoffs are the newest signal that Sigil was an answer in the hunt for an issue, a mission with no clear endgoal aside from to function a shinier model of instruments already present for D&D gamers. EN World has reached out to Wizards for remark concerning the layoffs.
Mission Sigil was initially introduced as a part of the One D&D initiative again in August 2022. The VTT was speculated to function a brand new entry level for D&D, with cross compatibility with D&D Past and extra performance with D&D’s ruleset to make the sport simpler to play. Nevertheless, even the preliminary announcement appeared to lack a powerful elevator pitch, aside from providing a shinier 3D VTT in comparison with Roll20 or Foundry. Nevertheless, many gamers and D&D commentators instantly identified the probably monetization that got here with this mission, with miniatures, adventures, and even core courses all up for grabs when it comes to microtransactions.
Sigil’s growth continued for over two years, with Wizards providing press and followers new appears to be like on the in-development mission at a number of high-profile occasions. A Gen Con D&D Stay present utilized Sigil for a dragon vs. dragon encounter that includes Baldur’s Gate 3 characters (performed by their voice actors) caught within the center. Nevertheless, using Sigil stunted the stay present expertise, turning a boisterous and raunchy present into a dull technical glitch-filled slog. With the gamers targeted on the pc and always calling for assist, it was a damning indictment of what Sigil might do to a D&D session.
In early 2025, EN World was invited to a D&D press occasion at Wizards’ headquarters in Renton, WA. The occasion included an hour-long have a look at Sigil, which was billed as extra of a stage builder than a conventional VTT. Whereas the designers confirmed off how comparatively straightforward it was to construct a fast encounter inside Sigil, they admitted that the majority tables would not use the VTT to run each encounter. Additionally they could not reply basic questions concerning the VTT, akin to monetization or what the design targets for the VTT was. Once more, it very a lot felt like an answer for an issue that hadn’t been launched. At one level, the designer famous that their plan for Sigil’s growth was largely depending on what customers really needed within the system and expressed hope that customers might use the VTT for programs past D&D 5E. It was additionally identified to builders that there was vital crossover with Maps, a D&D Past characteristic that used 2D maps and tokens that appeared to be far simpler to implement with the discharge of recent D&D merchandise. Aside from acknowledging the overlap and stating that the 2 programs labored otherwise, there wasn’t a transparent reply as to why Wizards was creating two VTT-esque merchandise on the similar time.
Sigil launched in February 2025 as one thing as a shock. Whereas an extended beta interval was initially deliberate, the complete launch of the mission was as a substitute introduced by way of a 140-word press launch. The mission was restricted to D&D Past subscribers, with a paid subscription wanted to unlock full providers. The unusually terse press launch and muted launch had all of the makings of a market dump – that Wizards of the Coast was slicing its losses after spending vital assets making an attempt to construct a system with no clear-cut viewers or aim in thoughts.
As of now, it is unclear how Sigil shall be supported shifting ahead – will it roll out new set items and miniatures as new adventures and content material with the upcoming Dragon Delves launch? Will it get any vital updates in any respect now that there is solely a handful of workers left to work on the mission? Or is Sigil destined to fade into obscurity, the newest in a collection of failed on-line merchandise headed by Wizards that was meant to launch alongside new editions. Solely time will inform.
