F2Z’s pending acquisition by Asmodee is delaying Plaid Hat releases and organized play launch, Plaid Hat Games founder and studio director Colby Dauch said in a post on the company’s site.  Plaid Hat Games was acquired by Z-Man Games parent F2Z Entertainment in July 2015 (see “Z-Man Parent Buys Plaid Hat”), and Asmodee announced that it was acquiring F2Z in July of 2016 (see “Asmodee Acquiring F2Z Entertainment”).

Two expansions for Ashes:  Rise of the Phoenixborn (see “Two Expansions for 'Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn'”) and the planned OP Kit have not been released as planned.  “We feel it is in the best interest of the game that we wait until those negotiations close before sending a brand new set of expansions and op kit to print,” Dauch said.  “Asmodee is part of a bigger investment group, so it is really problematic for me to say much of anything about future plans while F2Z and Asmodee are still in negotiation. We have plans and we will announce them as soon as we are legally able to.”

Plaid Hat has also been plagued by poor supply of recent Ashes expansions.  “The reason for poor supply of Ashes is because the game continues to surpass F2Z’s buyer’s expectations for what expansions to a product should sell,“ Dauch said of the issue. “We have stayed in communication to try and adjust as quickly as possible when orders exceed expectations, including going into reprint before the first printing of expansions have even finished printing, but unfortunately in print run and ocean shipping times follow up printings, still feel agonizingly slow.” He said the situation is improving with experience.