CARACAS (SNS)  In a move that has sent shockwaves through both the geopolitical and tabletop gaming communities, Hasbro Inc. announced today that all future printings of the board game Risk will officially scrub “Venezuela” from the map.

The territory, a longtime staple of South America and a favorite jumping-off point for players looking to harass North America, will be replaced by Ecuador.

Too Expensive to Play

According to unnamed sources familiar with the situation, the decision came after a “playtesting disaster” in which players who conquered the Venezuela territory were immediately forced to repair hundreds of defunct oil wells.

“It was ruining the game’s flow,” said one lead designer. “In the old version, you’d take Venezuela with three infantries. In the new version, the moment you roll a six, you are legally responsible for the territory’s external debt, its crumbling power grid.”

The Ecuador Swap

The decision to swap in Ecuador was described as a stability play.

“Ecuador is manageable,” the source continued. “It’s compact, it’s got great tourism potential, and the U.S. dollar is the accepted currency.”

The change has drawn mixed reviews. Casual gamers are happy they no longer have to manage hyperinflation during family game night, but hardcore strategy fans are disappointed.

“The Venezuela-to-Ecuador swap takes the teeth out of the game,” said one Grandmaster-ranked player. “Part of the fun of Risk was the high-stakes taunting. Now, if I occupy South America, I just get a reasonable trade agreement and a steady supply of bananas. Where’s the drama in that?”

At press time, sources say Hasbro is also considering replacing Ukraine with a “Permanently Contested Neutral Zone” consisting entirely of mud and broken drone parts to “better reflect the 2026 gaming meta data.”