Just got this from WotC:
Announcement Regarding 2003 Revisions to the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS(r) Roleplaying Game Core Rulebooks
December 5, 2002
Wizards of the Coast, Inc. has some great news to share with our loyal DUNGEONS & DRAGONS(r) roleplaying game fans. Since the release of the latest edition of the D&D(r) core rulebooks in 2000, we have striven to listen to the reviews, accolades, criticism, and other comments that our fans have contributed about these titles. The past two years have been filled with consumer feedback that has provided us with a wealth of information for making our books more rich in depth and gameplay - in short, more opportunity for every fan to enjoy the game a little more.
After gathering this invaluable input from the fans and putting it together with our own observations, it was clear that some targeted revisions in the three core rulebooks would go a long way towards creating these requested improvements in the D&D roleplayer's gaming experience. Therefore, we have incorporated fan comments and suggestions into upcoming revised editions of the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual. While the overall rules system will remain intact, these targeted changes have been designed to help with character play, convey consistency, and improve overall game flow. These updated core rulebooks will be on store shelves in July 2003, and we will be releasing more details in the months leading up to release. Please watch the Wizards of the Coast, Inc. website for more information.
We would like to thank our fans for giving us such reliable and valuable input, and we firmly believe that with your continued help and support, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. will continue to provide the foremost roleplaying game experience available.
Sincerely,
The Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Team