D&D General Penguin Random House To Stop Distributing D&D [UPDATED!]

A memo which went out to retailers this week indicates that Penguin Random House will not be distributing Dungeons & Dragons products in mainstream bookstores from 2024.

Effective December 31, 2023, Penguin Random House LLC will cease distributing titles for Wizards of the Coast LLC. Depending on the product, please ensure that the vendor of record for Wizards of the Coast LLC titles is changed to one of their new distributors listed here: Distributors | WPN."

WotC uses a range of distributors, including Alliance, Diamond, GTS, and more in the US, and Asmodee and others in the UK and Europe. Most of these deal with hobby trade (game stores and the like) retailers, while Penguin Random House is a general book trade publisher. Of course, the game will still be available on Amazon, also.

This isn't brand new news--WotC announced this back at the beginning of September.

UPDATE--WotC spoke to ICv2:

Penguin Random House is a valued partner and publishing licensee of Wizards of the Coast. While we deeply appreciate the excellent service provided over the years by PRHPS, we are now shifting our distribution strategy to utilize the capabilities of Hasbro to sell and distribute D&D products to retailers, and we will continue to partner with PRH on licensed D&D titles like the recently released Lore & Legends and the upcoming Hero's Feast: Flavors of the Multiverse. This change to distribution of Wizards' D&D roleplaying game publications such as rulebooks and adventure content won't affect fans as they will continue to find Dungeons & Dragonsproducts at their preferred retailers.

 

[kenmarable]

It's now WOTC ENDING PRH DISTRIBUTION OF 'DUNGEONS & DRAGONS' . I don't see an author, but it says at the bottom:

Considering how heavy-handed their language was in the first version of the article, this retraction is pretty funny.

 

[darjr]

Do Canadian retailers generally use PRH?

 

[Hussar]

Considering how heavy-handed their language was in the first version of the article, this retraction is pretty funny.

Kinda reflects almost perfectly the reactions here.

 

[darjr]

Christian Hoffer of Comic Book dot Com got a statement from Wizards.

Penguin Random House Ends Distribution of Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast Titles

Penguin Random House will no longer distribute Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks, but will continue [...]

comicbook.com

According to Wizards of the Coast, the change in distribution strategy is due to Wizards seeking to utilize its parent company Hasbro to sell D&D products directly to retailers. Per a statement provided by Wizards of the Coast to ComicBook.com, the change in distribution won't impact fans, as Dungeons & Dragons products will continue to be found at their preferred retailers. Additionally, Wizards of the Coast confirmed to ComicBook.com that it will continue to partner with Penguin Random House on licensed D&D titles in the future.

See the article for WotC full statement.

@Morrus

 

[Clint_L]

Let’s say it again for those in the back. Digital ownership is not real ownership. If you can’t hold it in your hands, you don’t own it,

Okay grandpa, whatever you say.

 

[Morrus]

UPDATE--WotC spoke to ICv2:

Penguin Random House is a valued partner and publishing licensee of Wizards of the Coast. While we deeply appreciate the excellent service provided over the years by PRHPS, we are now shifting our distribution strategy to utilize the capabilities of Hasbro to sell and distribute D&D products to retailers, and we will continue to partner with PRH on licensed D&D titles like the recently released Lore & Legends and the upcoming Hero's Feast: Flavors of the Multiverse. This change to distribution of Wizards' D&D roleplaying game publications such as rulebooks and adventure content won't affect fans as they will continue to find Dungeons & Dragonsproducts at their preferred retailers.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Okay grandpa, whatever you say.

Enjoy your remote deletion of your D&D library I guess?

 

[Nikosandros]

Okay grandpa, whatever you say.

On DDB we pay to have access to data. If the data is changed, we don't keep access to the older version. If at some point DDB goes away, we lose access to the data. To me, this is substantially different from ownership of a physical good or a digital file.

 

[mamba]

1.6 million is a HUGE loss

that assumes they are not bought on Amazon instead, I believe most would be

EDIT: apparently bookstores still get them too just not delivered from PRH, so nothing changes at all as far as the buyer is concerned

 

[QuentinGeorge]

On DDB we pay to have access to data. If the data is changed, we don't keep access to the older version. If at some point DDB goes away, we lose access to the data. To me, this is substantially different from ownership of a physical good or a digital file.

This is true but as a counterpoint have you considered that you are an old grandpa, dude?