D&D 5E (2024) Predict WotC's 2026 D&D releases

[Rainbow Scissors]

Clearly he thinks the last year was just fancy reprints of the PHB, DMG, MM, SCAG and RftLW...

You're a lot more skilled at moving goalposts than you are at reading the thoughts of others.

But to address what was released.
There were digital supplements.
There was (much like 3rd Edition,) a push to get some Forgotten Realms books with nice covers out the door.
Dragon Delves, which barely has any mechanics in at all. It probably should have just been a digital supplement.
There was also the special "legendary" edition of Tyranny of Dragons for $400.
The various compendiums, anthologies, and collections.
None of those strongly deviate from the usual pattern.

A lot of what is coming in 2026 are mainly products by people who aren't WotC. There are the various "workbooks," a crochet book (which is actually cool), a special version of the Dragonlance, romance novels (but alas no Fabio), and rumors of some setting books.

It could be the case that I am reading the tea leaves incorrectly and inappropriately scissoring.

My group still plays D&D. There is no emotional attachment either for or against the 2024 version of the game as printed by WotC.

Most recently, we have talked about trying A5E.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

A hint from a partner?

I will mention that WotC has recently appointed a Head of Franchising, whose job it is to improve the synchronicity between tie in products.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

A lot of what is coming in 2026 are mainly products by people who aren't WotC. There are the various "workbooks," a crochet book (which is actually cool), a special version of the Dragonlance, romance novels (but alas no Fabio), and rumors of some setting books.

All of the confirmed stuff is from licensees and doesn't reflect whatever WotC's D&D team may or may not be doing.

I happen to agree that this year will probably be fairly light until the end of the year, but the workbooks, crochet book, etc., aren't evidence of that.

 

[Remathilis]

There were digital supplements.

Three D&D Beyond exclusives. They aren't the only Beyond or Digital exclusives. The Mortuary for Planescape is one, there are four Monster mini books, the Vecna book and the HoT tie ins. And they were doing digital supplements as far back as The Tortle Package.

There was (much like 3rd Edition,) a push to get some Forgotten Realms books with nice covers out the door.

Oh yeah, such as rush job to put two full Forgotten Realms books out with adventures, pc options and circle magic. Sure.

Dragon Delves, which barely has any mechanics in at all. It probably should have just been a digital supplement.

Because it's an adventure anthology. And whether you think it should be a digital supplement (which you derided above) is irreverent. Unless you aren't counting every adventure anthology from Yawning Portal onwards.

There was also the special "legendary" edition of Tyranny of Dragons for $400.

Beadles & Grimm produced that. It's partnered content.

The various compendiums, anthologies, and collections.
None of those strongly deviate from the usual pattern.

Apparently Forge of the Artificer, the Stranger Things box set and the new Basic game don't count either as release either?

Talk about your shifting goalposts!

A lot of what is coming in 2026 are mainly products by people who aren't WotC. There are the various "workbooks," a crochet book (which is actually cool), a special version of the Dragonlance, romance novels (but alas no Fabio), and rumors of some setting books.

All partnered content and not designed by WotC.

It could be the case that I am reading the tea leaves incorrectly and inappropriately scissoring.

I would be certain you are. Considering that there are a half-dozen UAs also that hint at future products with defined game mechanics, I think you are reading what you want to read in those tea leaves.

 

[dave2008]

You're a lot more skilled at moving goalposts than you are at reading the thoughts of others.

But to address what was released.
There were digital supplements.
There was (much like 3rd Edition,) a push to get some Forgotten Realms books with nice covers out the door.
Dragon Delves, which barely has any mechanics in at all. It probably should have just been a digital supplement.
There was also the special "legendary" edition of Tyranny of Dragons for $400.
The various compendiums, anthologies, and collections.
None of those strongly deviate from the usual pattern.

A lot of what is coming in 2026 are mainly products by people who aren't WotC. There are the various "workbooks," a crochet book (which is actually cool), a special version of the Dragonlance, romance novels (but alas no Fabio), and rumors of some setting books.

It could be the case that I am reading the tea leaves incorrectly and inappropriately scissoring.

My group still plays D&D. There is no emotional attachment either for or against the 2024 version of the game as printed by WotC.

Most recently, we have talked about trying A5E.

I mean didn't we just get a hint of a future campaign book on these very forums (from a B&G press release)?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I mean didn't we just get a hint of a future campaign book on these very forums (from a B&G press release)?

We can also be confident that there will be a crunchy rules supplement this year, simply by counting up the number of subclasses that have been put through UA.

 

[Rainbow Scissors]

Three D&D Beyond exclusives. They aren't the only Beyond or Digital exclusives. The Mortuary for Planescape is one, there are four Monster mini books, the Vecna book and the HoT tie ins. And they were doing digital supplements as far back as The Tortle Package.

Cool.

Oh yeah, such as rush job to put two full Forgotten Realms books out with adventures, pc options and circle magic. Sure.

Because it's an adventure anthology. And whether you think it should be a digital supplement (which you derided above) is irreverent. Unless you aren't counting every adventure anthology from Yawning Portal onwards.

I derided nothing. I said they were digital. They are.

If I were to "deride" something about them, it would be that (unlike most other ttrpg companies,) WotC does not sell me a product with their digital options. What WotC sells is a license to use the digital product. I might even be okay with that if it was in a format that was easier for me to use. Other people prefer that arrangement. I do not prefer that arrangement, but I generally do not deride it either. Some people like a scissor that they can touch and feel. Other people get more enjoyment out of having a license to view scissors on their digital devices. Such is the way of the world.

Beadles & Grimm produced that. It's partnered content.

Apparently Forge of the Artificer, the Stranger Things box set and the new Basic game don't count either as release either?

Never claimed they didn't. There are a growing number of apparentlies and assumptions that do not accurately apply to my thoughts and views.

Talk about your shifting goalposts!

If anything, my goalposts were cleaned, painted, waxed, and buffed. Their position has not changed. My position has not changed.
The thread asked for my prediction about a release. I gave it. That prediction is still the same. My reasons for giving that prediction are still the same.

All partnered content and not designed by WotC.

You quoted a list of products that I said were not produced by WotC to tell me that it is a list of products not produced by WotC. So, yes, I agree that the products that I said were not being produced by WotC will not be produced by WotC.

I would be certain you are. Considering that there are a half-dozen UAs also that hint at future products with defined game mechanics, I think you are reading what you want to read in those tea leaves.

And that is a valid opinion. I even said (in the post that you quoted) that I could be wrong. It is rare, but Thermopylae happens.

Technically, the thread does ask for 2026 releases. I do not think that 6E would release until at least 2027. Though, if it were going to, I think 2026 will showcase alternate mechanics (like the circle magic that you mentioned) and different ways of doing things to test some of the ideas, much in the same way that Book of 9 Swords (a 3rd Edition product) was a proto-4E.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

There aint going to be a sixth edition this year, next year, or the year after that. And when there eventually is, it will take the game in the exact opposite direction to the one you want (because you aint going to be any younger or more in touch).