D&D 5E Mythic Odysseys of Theros Delayed

Amazon's entry for the upcoming Greek-themed D&D setting book Mythic Odysseys of Theros has an updated release date of July 21st, 2020, delayed from June 2nd 2020. Amazon has emailed those who pre-ordered the book to tell them about the amended date. This change is also reflected on WotC's own product page.

The D&D team has been working at home during the current pandemic, and there have been worldwide delays for everybody with printers, game stores, and distributors.

Update — WotC has just made this announcement.

The printers Dungeons & Dragons depends upon to create the fantastic additions to your RPG collection have been closed to keep everyone safe during this time. Unfortunately, that means it will take a little longer to see Mythic Odysseys of Theros on your shelf. Look to pick up the standard or alternate cover at your local game store on July 21. If using digital platforms is more for you, you’re in luck because you’ll be able to access Mythic Odyssey of Theros content on June 2 on Roll 20, Fantasy Grounds and D&D Beyond.

That’s not all! We’re giving all fans a reason to support their friendly local game stores. Each participating WPN store will be able to provide a physical reference map for use with encounters and monsters in the book AND unique codes to the first 20 fans who pre-order or buy Mythic Odysseys of Theros for 50% off the digital version on D&D Beyond!

Though you may not be able to play your next Adventurers League game in person at your favorite store, we want to help support the local businesses responsible for the endless camaraderie and joy they provide. Thank you to game stores for partnering with Wizards of the Coast to make this happen!

 

[Urriak Uruk]

The digital version being available one June 2 is pretty nice. Means the content is available on the original date if I need it, and I can wait the two months for the preferable physical copy.

Hopefully this doesn't mean that the other releases for the year are also silently being pushed back, though the probably are. May not see the adventure book until November.

 

[Parmandur]

The digital version being available one June 2 is pretty nice. Means the content is available on the original date if I need it, and I can wait the two months for the preferable physical copy.

Hopefully this doesn't mean that the other releases for the year are also silently being pushed back, though the probably are. May not see the adventure book until November.

This is pretty much exactly why they hold product announcements so close to their chest: while products will be delayed, we won't know the original plan.

 

[Morrus]

This is pretty much exactly why they hold product announcements so close to their chest: while products will be delayed, we won't know the original plan.

No it’s not. It’s because they want to be able to control the media hype around each release one at a time. The idea is that D&D releases are ‘events’ (thus the big parties they have in LA, albeit not this year).

 

[Marandahir]

No it’s not. It’s because they want to be able to control the media hype around each release one at a time. The idea is that D&D releases are ‘events’ (thus the big parties they have in LA, albeit not this year).

Aren't you both saying the same thing, though? WotC & Hasbro wont to control the media hype around each release. If they let us know too early and then had to delay it, the hype would be out of control. By keeping the original plan a secret, then the hype remains within their control.

This is the same phenomenon with say, Nintendo and the newest Zelda game. Those titles are a BIG DEAL but they're always delayed, so instead of letting us know and giving us letdown and frustration and disgruntledness, they are able to manage our expectations by not giving a release day. By not revealing anything on say, Metroid Prime 4, until they have a working prototype. If they had showed us footage beyond the working title and told us a release window back when the game was announced, we'd be more angry than we are with not having any news.

WotC works much the same.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

No it’s not. It’s because they want to be able to control the media hype around each release one at a time. The idea is that D&D releases are ‘events’ (thus the big parties they have in LA, albeit not this year).

I think part of the reason they haven't even announced an event yet (though Greg Tito has said he was planning one), is because they are cautiously hoping to just push all released by two months, including having the media event two months later.

Now, will they be able to have an event in July? I doubt it, but you never know how things will look in two months.

 

[Morrus]

I think part of the reason they haven't even announced an event yet (though Greg Tito has said he was planning one), is because they are cautiously hoping to just push all released by two months, including having the media event two months later.

Now, will they be able to have an event in July? I doubt it, but you never know how things will look in two months.

Those parties they have look like they need plenty of organising and people having chance to buy tickets and arrange travel and accommodation.

 

[Parmandur]

No it’s not. It’s because they want to be able to control the media hype around each release one at a time. The idea is that D&D releases are ‘events’ (thus the big parties they have in LA, albeit not this year).

Two facets of the same figure. They want to control the media situation, a big part of which is avoiding fatigue from hearing about a product for too long and too early, and avoiding last second delays like this as much as possible.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Those parties they have look like they need plenty of organising and people having chance to buy tickets and arrange travel and accommodation.

Last year for the Descent they opened ticket purchases about a month before the event was scheduled.

If their doing an event again in LA, and things are looking much better by June, maybe they'll try and have the event sometime in July for a book in November.

However, I doubt it will look that much better in June... I just think WotC probably has some sunk cost in an event and isn't willing to totally abandon an event, even if the probability of it happening is near zero.

 

[Morrus]

Last year for the Descent they opened ticket purchases about a month before the event was scheduled.

If their doing an event again in LA, and things are looking much better by June, maybe they'll try and have the event sometime in July for a book in November.

However, I doubt it will look that much better in June... I just think WotC probably has some sunk cost in an event and isn't willing to totally abandon an event, even if the probability of it happening is near zero.

Given that August-based conventions are being cancelled, I hope they don't.

 

[Mercurius]

At least 8 of these years were spent in Circe's island....

I guess I have to be That Guy.

This is incorrect. He spent a year on Circe's island, and seven years with the nymph Calypso (poor guy), with most of the remaining two years on various adventures before, between, and after.