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Cover Story. The History of ... Heroscape: Age of Annihilation
Annihilation, Barely
Avoided
Heroscape was MIA for twelve years. In 2010, Hasbro
and Wizards of the Coast decided to discontinue the game with its many detailed components. Unofficially, enthusiasm for the war game never waned. Fans continued to gather
for tournaments, create their own scenarios, and build spectacular plastic landscapes. In 2022, the powers
that be planned a big comeback for the game, which
then failed in spectacular fashion. Now, Heroscape: Age
of Annihilation is back, a phoenix rising once again from the ashes.
By ANDREAS BECKER
funding campaign to revive the game
on Hasbro’s own platform, Haslab, ended in failure. According to the internet portal “Dicebreaker” in June 2023,
the campaign needed 8,000 sup- porters, but only a little more than half that many signed up. The cam- paign’s goal had been to raise at least two million dollars. It fell far short. He roscape, it seemed, would remain a thing of the past.
Until Scott Gaeta took the stage, that is. Gaeta, with his distinctive glasses and military-cut gray hair, is the head of Renegade Game Studios. He founded the company in 2014 and built it into a successful publisher. The company’s suc-
cess was partly due to a partnership with Hasbro that revived old titles. Contracts had already been signed for classics like Diplomacy, Axis & Allies, Risk, and Robo Rally. Up next was Heroscape, which officially returned to life on
June 8, 2023.
“Heroscape brought a lot
of people into hobby gaming and to this day there is a robust and passionate community,” Gaeta said after signing the contract with Hasbro. “We look forward to growing that com- munity. Additionally, we will be part-
scape was laid to rest for the first time. I
Back then, it was published by Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of toy giant Hasbro. The company wanted to focus more on other products, with Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering taking center stage. Heroscape had to go.
On November 15, 2022, a second fu- neral took place. On that day, the crowd-
t was November 3, 2010, when Hero
nering with hobby stores to give Heroscape and its community of players the best home possible where they can make new friends and engage in exciting battles
across Valhalla!”
Renegade wants to involve the game’s
active fan scene more closely. After all, it was likely this vibrant group that caused Hasbro to consider whether new releas- es could be successful in the first place. Even when Heroscape was off the mar- ket for years, “Heroscapers” continued to exchange ideas on the website of the same name, organized their own tourna- ments, and designed new figures.
Renegade also plans to run official tournaments, known as Organized Play. A World Championship at Gen Con in Indi- anapolis has already been announced for the summer of 2025. Renegade is keen to deepen the connection between fans and the game. Collectors will also be ca- tered to, and expansions featuring new warriors and other landscape tiles have already been announced.
Photos: Avalon Hill, Becker, Hasbro, Renegade Game Studios
