# John Hight

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{{Short description|American video game producer and executive}}
'''John Hight''' is an American video game producer and executive. He is the president of [Wizards of the Coast](/source/Wizards_of_the_Coast) and Digital Gaming at [Hasbro](/source/Hasbro).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soper |first=Taylor |date=2024-07-18 |title=Longtime World of Warcraft leader John Hight named president at Wizards of the Coast |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2024/longtime-world-of-warcraft-leader-john-hight-named-president-at-wizards-of-the-coast/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US}}</ref> He previously held senior roles at [Blizzard Entertainment](/source/Blizzard_Entertainment), [Sony Computer Entertainment](/source/Sony_Computer_Entertainment), [Electronic Arts](/source/Electronic_Arts), and [Atari](/source/Atari).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Sophie McEvoy Staff |date=2024-06-14 |title=John Hight leaves Blizzard Entertainment |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/john-hight-leaves-blizzard-entertainment |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-01 |title=John Hight, God of War III director of product development |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-03-01-god-of-war-3-product-development-john-hight-interview.html |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref> Hight's production and design credits span franchises such as ''[World of Warcraft](/source/World_of_Warcraft)'', ''[Diablo III](/source/Diablo_III)'', ''[God of War](/source/God_of_War_(franchise))'', ''[Command & Conquer](/source/Command_%26_Conquer)'', and ''[Magic: The Gathering](/source/Magic%3A_The_Gathering)''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Chaplin |first=Heather |date=2009-03-23 |title=Video Game Grad Programs Open Up The Industry |url=https://www.npr.org/2009/03/23/102246406/video-game-grad-programs-open-up-the-industry |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Hight began his career in the early 1990s at the [3DO Company](/source/The_3DO_Company) and joined Electronic Arts in 1996 as executive producer and director of design.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-23 |title=Hoe de ontwikkeling van videogames afgelopen decennium is veranderd |url=https://nl.mashable.com/entertainment/175/hoe-de-ontwikkeling-van-videogames-afgelopen-decennium-is-veranderd |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=Mashable Benelux |language=nl}}</ref> While at EA and [Westwood Studios](/source/Westwood_Studios), he served as director of design, and CG director on ''[Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2](/source/Command_%26_Conquer%3A_Red_Alert_2)'' and its expansion ''[Yuri's Revenge](/source/Command_%26_Conquer%3A_Yuri's_Revenge)''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nox Features: Exclusive Interview with John Hight & Mike Booth {{!}} Hecubah.com |url=https://hecubah.com/interview-with-nox-creators/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2005, Hight joined Sony Computer Entertainment America as director of product development. He led internal development at [Santa Monica Studio](/source/Santa_Monica_Studio), overseeing ''[God of War III](/source/God_of_War_III)''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beck |first=Kellen |date=2019-10-21 |title=How Video Game Development Has Changed Over The Last Decade |url=https://mashable.com/article/video-game-development-over-the-decade/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=Mashable India |language=en-in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-16 |title=Sony's timing tricky for God of War III |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-mar-16-la-fi-ct-godofwar16-2010mar16-story.html |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He also led development on the first generation of games for the PlayStation Network and was responsible for signing early titles from [thatgamecompany](/source/thatgamecompany), including ''[Flow](/source/Flow_(video_game))'', where he served as executive producer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 March 2008 |title=The State of PlayStation Network: John Hight Interviewed |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/the-state-of-playstation-network-john-hight-interviewed |website=gamedeveloper.com}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutkoff |first=Aaron |date=2006-11-28 |title=How a Grad-School Thesis Theory Evolved Into a PlayStation 3 Game - WSJ |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116460570723333343 |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> In 2011, Hight joined Blizzard Entertainment as senior producer on ''[World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria](/source/World_of_Warcraft%3A_Mists_of_Pandaria)''.<ref name=":0" /> He later became executive producer and general manager for the ''Warcraft'' franchise, overseeing development and business operations for ''World of Warcraft'', ''[Hearthstone](/source/Hearthstone)'', ''[Warcraft Rumble](/source/Warcraft_Rumble)'', and ''[Warcraft III: Reforged](/source/Warcraft_III%3A_Reforged)''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=published |first=Heather Newman |date=2024-06-16 |title=After 12 years at Blizzard, Warcraft general manager John Hight announces departure: 'I've been so honored to serve all of the heroes of Azeroth' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/after-12-years-at-blizzard-warcraft-general-manager-john-hight-announces-departure-ive-been-so-honored-to-serve-all-of-the-heroes-of-azeroth/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref> He also directed production on ''[Diablo III: Reaper of Souls](/source/Diablo_III%3A_Reaper_of_Souls)'' and was involved in the removal of the in-game auction house.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-09-18 |title=Diablo 3 auction houses are doomed by developer Blizzard |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-24152225 |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=2013-09-17 |title=Blizzard shutting down 'Diablo III' auction house, wants players to get back to killing monsters |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/17/4742120/blizzard-shutting-down-diablo-iii-auction-houses |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Bo |title=Why Diablo's Auction House Went Straight to Hell |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/09/diablo-auction-house/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

In 2024, Hight was appointed President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming at Hasbro, where he leads strategy and development across tabletop and digital platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Didymus-True |first=Mike |date=2024-07-18 |title=Hasbro brings in veteran Blizzard senior exec John Hight as Wizards of the Coast, digital gaming president - |url=https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/07/18/hasbro-brings-in-veteran-blizzard-senior-exec-john-hight-as-wizards-of-the-coast-digital-gaming-president/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Langsworthy |first=Billy |date=2024-07-23 |title=Hasbro welcomes John Hight as President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming |url=https://www.mojo-nation.com/hasbro-welcomes-john-hight-as-president-of-wizards-of-the-coast-and-digital-gaming/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=Mojo Nation |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Buckley |first=Thomas |date=18 Jul 2024 |title=Hasbro Names Microsoft's John Hight to Lead Wizards Division |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-18/hasbro-names-microsoft-s-john-hight-to-lead-wizards-division |work=[Bloomberg News](/source/Bloomberg_News)}}</ref> Under Hight's leadership, Wizards of the Coast reported its most successful fiscal year in 2025, with division revenue growing 45% year-over-year to approximately $2.2 billion.<ref name="hasbro-fy2025">{{cite web |date=February 10, 2026 |title=Hasbro Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results |url=https://investor.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2025-financial |access-date=March 9, 2026 |website=Hasbro Investor Relations}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg-mtg">{{cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=February 10, 2026 |title=Hasbro's 'Magic: The Gathering' Sales Soar on Popular Tie-Ins |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-10/hasbro-s-magic-the-gathering-sales-soar-on-popular-tie-ins |access-date=March 9, 2026 |work=Bloomberg}}</ref> ''[Magic: The Gathering](/source/Magic%3A_The_Gathering)'' achieved record annual revenues of $1.72 billion, a 59% increase over the prior year, driven by the ''Universes Beyond'' product line and crossover sets including ''[Avatar: The Last Airbender](/source/Avatar%3A_The_Last_Airbender)'' and ''[Final Fantasy](/source/Final_Fantasy)''.<ref name="hasbro-fy2025" /><ref name="bloomberg-mtg" /><ref>{{cite web |date=February 2026 |title=Hasbro Profit Surges on Wizards of the Coast Strength, Announces $1 Billion Buyback |url=https://news.alphastreet.com/hasbro-profit-surges-on-wizards-of-the-coast-strength-announces-1-billion-buyback/ |access-date=March 9, 2026 |website=AlphaStreet}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.mobygames.com/person/8091/john-hight/ John Hight] at [MobyGames](/source/MobyGames)

Category:American video game producers
Category:American video game designers
Category:American business executives
Category:Blizzard Entertainment people
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Hight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hight) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hight?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.