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.

 

[Chaltab]

I don't really care one way or the other about Spelljammer, but I like Ships, and I thought that SJ would improve on the lackluster Ship-to-Ship-Battle rules from Ghosts of Saltmarsh.

Honestly the lack of ship battle rules isn't even the most frustrating part to me. If you give it any real depth then you're basically adding a whole other game on top of the game, and that's not something that interests many players.

What really bothers me is all the setting elements excluded. Bionoids, Spirit Warriors, Scro, Dracons, Crystal Spheres. A lot of great gonzo space fantasy stuff ripped off from anime--which may be the reason. Still they didn't have to make them look like Guyvers in the new art.

I don't mind the fact that it wasn't a one-to-one translation of 2E Spelljammer, there was stuff that was painfully retrograde even back then (Aperusa, for instance. Did D&D really need another racist Romani stereotype species?)

At least Giffs made it in.

 

[Chaltab]

What level?

Were your players bad@game by any chance?

Level 12, and no they just got unlucky. One of them ate a disintegrate that did like 87 damage. He was the wizard, and the player left the campaign shortly after, so they went into the boss fight a man down. They still won.

 

[TheSword]

That’s not grimdark. In grimdark every attempt to do good and make things better ends up making things worse instead. See Game of Thones. It’s not that the world is dark - it may not be particularly - it’s that good can’t win.

Grimdark can cover a few different things. The most grimdark of settings W40k is full of stories where heroic actions make a difference. Unfortunately it’s just a tiny insignificant difference (but not for the individuals involved). It shines bright not because it inspires other people but because of the contrast to everyone else.

To be honest Darksun fits the mould. Kill a SK and then all of these other problems appear that the SK was keeping at bay, making you feel like what seems like the end goal turns out to be only the beginning.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

If the new DS is as good an update as VRG was, then it will be just fine…

I mean, this is largely a taste thing, isn’t it? I thought VGR was a vast improvement on the 2nd edition boxed set, which I thought was a dumpster fire before dumpster fires were famous. And I really enjoyed Radiant Citadel.

 

[Azzy]

The subclasses are possibly for a spelljammer supplement on Doomspace. Or a brand new supplement or setting.

Unlikely. Like, not remotely probable.

 

[Azzy]

I mean, this is largely a taste thing, isn’t it? I thought VGR was a vast improvement on the 2nd edition boxed set, which I thought was a dumpster fire before dumpster fires were famous. And I really enjoyed Radiant Citadel.

While, I wouldn't call 2e RL a dumpster fire, I would say that it was far more Dark Shadows than Hammer horror (which, themselves were plenty campy) that it tried to be. I agree the VRG was a vast improvement, but that's an easy hurdle to clear.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

A lot of great gonzo space fantasy stuff ripped off from anime

Anime? I don’t remember that being particularly big back then. There was certainly stuff ripped off from Doctor Who and WH40K, but I think the reason this stuff didn’t make it in was down to page count and what the authors found interesting.

 

[TiQuinn]

Oooh such spicy takes! People are gonna be big mad when that Dark Sun book actually hits the shelves.

 

[talorien508]

I just don't think that bears up. I once killed three characters in a single adventure, two in the same boss fight, in an adventure that wasn't supposed to be that difficult.

They are, though? That's exactly what they did in 4E. Did you mean to type 'now' instead of 'not'?

Yes. my mistake.

 

[talorien508]

Yes. my mistake.

I think if you compare D&D versions, and I have played them all, 5e is hands down the hardest one to die in.