2024 D&D Core Rulebooks Off to "Strongest-Ever" Start for D&D Books

Dungeons & Dragons got a rare shoutout during Hasbro's 3rd quarter earnings report, with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks stating that the 2024 Core Rulebooks were off to a record start. Today, Hasbro released its third quarter 2025 earnings report, with Wizards of the Coast propping up the overall revenue for the company. Wizards of the Coast is up 33% YTD, with Magic: The Gathering having a 40% jump compared to last year. However, Cocks also called out Dungeons & Dragons in his comments, speaking to both the Core Rulebooks and D&D Beyond's Maps VTT.

Cocks' full comments (which are admittedly very brief) can be found below:

The refreshed 2024 editions of D&D’s Monster Manual, Players Handbook, and DM Guide are off to the strongest-ever start for D&D books. D&DBEYOND’S new, accessible virtual tabletop has driven weekly traffic up nearly 50% since its September launch.

Hasbro is having a good year, with total revenue up 7% compared to last year. Wizards is expected to be up 36-38% for 2025, largely due to the performance of Magic: The Gathering.

 

[aiouh]

I think bookscan doesn't track DDB numbers so I don't think we'll ever know.

 

[mamba]

Yes, but it's true. That every edition has outsold the one prior.

maybe in the first month of release, in total sales it pretty much was the opposite until 5e came along

 

[Mark Craddock]

Sadly, the bundles on DnD Beyond have really cut into my DnD sales of new product. Right now my bestselling RPGs are Shadowdark and Daggerheart. I will say that both of the new box sets are incredible products.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

WotC is telling their investors the truth, but certainly "spinning" it in the most positive light. That's what you do when you are talking to shareholders.

Yup, just like every investor/shareholder call ever.

 

[AlViking]

Yup, just like every investor/shareholder call ever.

Does anyone really think investors really care about D&D book sales unless they're hemorrhaging money? MtG is all they really care about and because of the success of BG 3 they'd like more of that sweet video game profit as well. The TTRPG could be canceled tomorrow and they likely wouldn't bat an eye.

 

[Skywalker]

Due to the transitive property, per the below that means that in the first month the 2024 PHB outsole eE, 3.5, and 4E lifetime PHB sales:

That's not how math works.

If:
The sales for first month of D&D2024 > the sale of the first two years of D&D5e

And:
The sale for the lifetime of D&D5e > the sale for the lifetime of every previous edition

You can't conclude that:
The sales for first month of D&D2024 > the sale for the lifetime of every previous edition

As:
The sale of the first two years of D&D5e =/= the sale for the lifetime of D&D5e

 

[Parmandur]

That's not how math works.

If:
The sales for first month of D&D2024 > the sale of the first two years of D&D5e

And:
The sale for the lifetime of D&D5e > the sale for the lifetime of every previous edition

You can't conclude that:
The sales for first month of D&D2024 > the sale for the lifetime of every previous edition

As:
The sale of the first two years of D&D5e =/= the sale for the lifetime of D&D5e

You might want to double check the date from that post where Mearls said that: the 5E PHB had outsold the lifetime sales of the 3E, 3.5, or 4E PHBs in August 2016 which is over nine years ago now. At that time, the 2014 PHB had been on sale for 23 months,.

So, yes, the sales of the 2014 PHB in 2 years does actually = the sales of the 2024 PHB in two years.

I didn't say anything in that post about the lifetime sales of the 2014 PHB, but it has been selling for 9 years since it surpassed every other WotC Edition of D&D.

 

[darjr]

Sadly, the bundles on DnD Beyond have really cut into my DnD sales of new product. Right now my bestselling RPGs are Shadowdark and Daggerheart. I will say that both of the new box sets are incredible products.

Thanks for that input. Where is your store?

 

[Von Ether]

When Worlds of Wonder went digital with Ticket to Ride, they noticed a "reverse funnel" where people who learned played the digital version bought the board game to share with their family (and had already learned the best strategies for the game.) Over the years, Battletech has also gotten so many gamers who remember the video games and want to check out the original.
This reverse funnel might be the best we can hope for with the tabletop hobby. It makes me wonder if Games Workshop have been able to confirm how many customers they've gotten through their video games as well.

In fact, I had no idea how many and how many types of video games GW has licensed out. Hasbro has to be desperate to mirror this strategy.

 

[Zardnaar]

When Worlds of Wonder went digital with Ticket to Ride, they noticed a "reverse funnel" where people who learned played the digital version bought the board game to share with their family (and had already learned the best strategies for the game.) Over the years, Battletech has also gotten so many gamers who remember the video games and want to check out the original.
This reverse funnel might be the best we can hope for with the tabletop hobby. It makes me wonder if Games Workshop have been able to confirm how many customers they've gotten through their video games as well.

I've never played Warhammer40k tabletop beyond 1 game.

Tgey make some money off me indirectly via novels and paints.