It could just be worded wrong in the article, as I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't think about other games, but it also heavily implies that A&A is gone. Granted, that is an annoucement that I've been expecting for some time.

Either way, the signs just are not looking good, especially now that I see the full article. That is a LOT of trimming.

I don't have any ill will toward WotC, I just think we're gradually seeing it proved again that a major corporation (in this case Hasbro) doesn't really have a place in the hobby gaming market. Profit margins are too low and the market is too finicky for a large corporation, particularly a publicly traded one. With a small company, just coming out ahead is enough, and constant innovation is good, because the occasional success is going to be worth more to the company than the cost of the numerous failures. As part of a larger organization, simply turning a profit isn't enough, and failures get put under a magnifying glass by higher ups.

They've already gone through the first phase, and stopped coming up with new ideas. They're well into the second phase, where they gradually shed otherwise viable and profitable lines because they don't make enough money. They'll keep shaving bits and people off of D&D to try and make its profit margin acceptable. When they can't cut any more, and it's still not profitable enough, they'll shut it down. Even though it's the most recognizable and marketable name in the business, it won't turn enough profit for Hasbro.

After that, the third phase is licensing. Hasbro will realize that they can make a much better profit margin by offering up the D&D license to whoever wants to take it on. Probably Paizo. All they have to do is have someone on staff to cash the check that Paizo sends once a month or year. Paizo, or whoever licenses it, will take whatever system they're using, or develop some sort of 5th or 6th edition, populate it with classic D&D names, and rake in the profits that weren't profitable enough for Hasbro. And it will get hailed as the 3rd age of D&D.

It's not really something to be dreaded. It's inevitable. It's happened with Wizkids and Avalon Hill already. It's not so bad, since it's usually people who really like the game system or world that end up licensing it.