D&D (2024) 2024 Player’s Handbook is ‘Fastest Selling D&D Book Ever’

It’s only officially been out for a week, but according to Wizards of the Coast, the new Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook has already surpassed Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything to become the fastest selling D&D book ever—in the entire 50-year history of the game. It has sold three times as many copies as the 2014 version of the books did at launch.

Not only that, the 2024 Player’s Handbook was the biggest print run in D&D’s history.

In a press release today, WotC claims more than 85 million D&D fans worldwide, and says that D&D Beyond, the game’s official online platform, has over 18 million users.

 

[Velderan]

That's easily explained by purchasers like Ethan above who plan to get it, but don't feel a rush.

For my FLGS, it was very slow the first week, but kept picking up steam as people "got around" to coming in for it. There is clearly excitement for it (or it wouldn't be doing so well overall) but there is ALSO an unprecedented amount of "wait and see" or "wait until our campaign finishes".

Which means that sales will probably continue to roll along at a high level.

There’s also plenty of “let’s see what the DMG and MM look like” potential customers. Anecdotal but I know I have seen some people online waiting for a possible slipcase bundle of all 3 books next Christmas.

 

[Retreater]

I don't think it really matters all that much. What will matter is what it sells over the next 6 months to a year. People that are already playing the 2014 edition may well be transitioning slowly as campaigns end or just waiting for more reviews. People that were excited about the new edition took advantage of the bundle pricing? Shocking. I don't see how that really matters. The continued success of the game has always been and will always be driven by people new to the game in the longer run.

True. I'm not putting much importance in the sales numbers just yet. According to most reports, 4E sold really well at the start too.

 

[mamba]

Apparently they're counting purchases of the license on D&D Beyond, because it's only sold 3700 physical copies (according to Glicker's numbers).

I have no idea how fast stores report to Bookscan, but if they only have 3700 sales that sounds more like a problem with their number than like realistic sales

 

[mykesfree]

Bookscan does not include any FLGS numbers, let alone Beyond, and they have been selling for weeks now.

Since it is a toy code, the title is not reporting to Bookscan.

If they are touting numbers, then every Beyond Subscriber received a version of the 2024 rules.

 

[TrippyHippy]

The established D&D market has grown since 2014 and with plenty of marketing and advertising it is no surprise that the book has sold a lot.

I also still don’t have my preordered copy. Will Hasbro/WotC be bragging about slowest delivery ever?

 

[mamba]

Since it is a toy code, the title is not reporting to Bookscan.

when why does Bookscan track 3700 sales? Someone passed them on by accident?

 

[Velderan]

when why does Bookscan track 3700 sales? Someone passed them on by accident?

I forget what Bookscan tracks, but it is ranked on the Barnes and Noble website against other books (currently 124) so maybe that's 1 source they're using?

 

[bedir than]

If someone is insisting that WotC only sold 3700 copies when you know they sold 3000 at GenCon that's a person you don't need to pay attention to.

 

[Retreater]

If someone is insisting that WotC only sold 3700 copies when you know they sold 3000 at GenCon that's a person you don't need to pay attention to.

I was only halfway paying attention to the Roll for Combat video, but I think he said that was for the first week of sales. The 3000 sold at GenCon would've been before the first official week of sales, right?

Am I misreading the situation?

 

[darjr]

One thing I’ll say about Roll for Combat, their numbers have generally been good, their interpretation not so much. Imho