- Hasbro is making changes to Monopoly on the board game’s 90th anniversary, introducing expansion packs and getting rid of the battleship.
Monopoly has been subtly teaching economics and causing family fights worldwide for 90 years now—and as it celebrates that milestone, Hasbro is making some changes to the game.
The company has announced a trio of expansion packs that add twists to the game and let you finish it in a shorter time, but the real noticeable changes for traditionalists will be the packaging and the tokens. Say goodbye to the long box that has been on store shelves since the Social Security Act was signed into law: Moving forward, Monopoly will be sold in a square box.
Also, the battleship token is being put into dry dock. Taking its place will be a money bag. The game’s money is also getting a new look, and there’s an organizer for the bank’s funds.
“Monopoly is more than a board game; it’s a cultural phenomenon that has transcended generations and resonates deeply with players across the globe,” Brian Baker, senior vice president of board games at Hasbro, said in a statement. “These all-new expansion packs and the completely redesigned classic board game are a result of deep consumer insights, and I think they truly elevate the Monopoly play experience.”
As for the expansions, there are three, which add new ways to play, some of which are based on fan rules (like the unofficial rule that you win money when you land on Free Parking).
The Monopoly Free Parking Jackpot Expansion adds a spinner to the board, giving players a chance to win more money. The Monopoly Go to Jail Expansion adds “corruption cards,” which you can only get after you’ve been sent to jail. The Monopoly Buy Everything Expansion, meanwhile, makes everything—including the bank—up for sale.
Change always brings eyes back to a classic game, but Hasbro has learned that messing with Monopoly can anger the fan base. In 2017, when it retired the thimble, boot, and wheelbarrow tokens, it upset many players who felt an affinity toward those pieces. It remains to be seen how deep the loyalty runs to the battleship.