Wizards of the Coast Re-Registers Dark Sun With USPTO

Wizards of the Coast recently filed an application to register Dark Sun in the US, a sign that D&D could be bringing back the campaign setting in the near future. The trademark claim was filed on October 13th, 2025 and is poised to replace a previous trademark that was cancelled by the USPTO in 2024. The trademark, like most involving D&D properties, covers both "downloadable electronic games," "games and playthings," and "entertainment services." Similar active trademarks exist for other D&D campaign settings such as Spelljammer and Forgotten Realms, although neither of those have lapsed in recent years.

We'll note that, as the previous Dark Sun trademark lapsed a year ago, this could be a case of simple paperwork, or it could be the latest sign that a Dark Sun product is eminent. Earlier this year, Wizards released an Unearthed Arcana for the Psion class and several subclasses that all but spelled out a return to the setting, complete with mentions of sorcerer-kings, gladiatorial fights, and preservers and defilers.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Chris had things blow up in his face after the release of Tomb of Annihilation and it could be he just became leery of stepping into those dangerous waters of art versus societal reaction once more.

It sounds to me that what they were Leary of was a backlash from grogs, not if the should make changes or not. Obviously there are going to make changes, or there wouldn't be any point in releasing a new version.

And I suspect what changed it is this:

Dark Sun has a reputation of D&Ds forbidden setting. Tens of thousands of views on YouTube younger players on the private Facebook groups.

Someone at WotC successfully made the case that they could sell it to a new audience, they didn't need the old audience.

 

[sevenbastard]

I wonder if there is any chance they would do a Psionics book, and include DS as the "example psionic focused campaign" in that book.

For me, as long as it is deadly world of psionics, swords and a touch of sorcery, then I'll be happy.

If Athas does come back, its going to be a different beast to what it was, but at least there will be psionics

I love Dark Sun, but honestly never enjoyed the psionics part of it. ( or psinics in general) Still give me the book and I will homebrew them out!!!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The quick answer (so as to not derail the thread with discussions about it) was that Chris was a white writer writing for Black characters in a setting style that could be thought of as a potential for caricature, and no Black writers were ever asked to check the project for authenticity or the avoidance of what might be considered racist tropes.

Chris wrote it with the best of his own intentions, but a white writer doesn't know what he doesn't know about the Black experience. And some Black critics found issues with the project. Needless to say, Chris felt really bad about it.

You don't need to be black to spot the colonialist tropes in ToA. I'm white and I they jumped out at me at once. Specifically, why is there no resistance movement to all these Sword Coaster colonies?!

 

[DarkCrisis]

Glad Dark Sun might see new life but WotC is going to sanitize the hell out of it.

At the end of the day it will be a desert-punk setting. Hero’s of a dying world.


Plus like Dragonlance etc. it will be 90% adventure book and 10% lore anyways.

 

[Oryzarius]

"It could be the latest sign that a Dark Sun product is eminent."

With their high production values, I'm sure it would be.

But the question you probably meant to ask was, is it coming out soon?

 

[Henadic Theologian]

OTOH, one of the UAs indicated really strongly that they are working on Dark Sun.

Indicated? It all but straight out said it. Between the Psion article and the one with Gladitor its 99% confirmed as coming.

 

[Corinnguard]

I wonder if there is any chance they would do a Psionics book, and include DS as the "example psionic focused campaign" in that book.

They could always convert 3e's Expanded Psionics Handbook for 5e and include one or more chapters for DS in it.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I guess it will be like the 4e player handbook with some retcons about the classes like the monks. Maybe the paladins can be allowed because now they don't need deities. No-good paladins could work as templars.

We should remember the possibilites about a spin-off, maybe a spiritual successor of Jakandor, or 3PPs creating their own DS spiritual successor with changes to allow more PC species and classes.

I would add the fraals to the list of psionic playable species.

* Should the ardent class (3.5 complete psionic) to be allowed in Athas?

 

[bedir than]

12 year odds are a small minority of the player base. DiA and CoS went a bit further.
Its really only here in ENworld you get the reverse puritan types.

12-18 are more common than 40+ by far
Additionally, plenty of D&D players on social media think that respecting the rights and traditions of others is possible in D&D. They run the largest APs even.
Respect isn't a puritan ideal.

WotC may be going in a different direction.

Slavery is present in every "era" of WotC D&D. There's no new direction.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Slavery is present in every "era" of WotC D&D. There's no new direction.

Slavery is an excellent example of a thing to fight against, where you can smite the slavers with no regrets.