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.

 

[Zardnaar]

Riiiiight, because WotC is extremely trustworthy and would never mislead anyone

I said outright lie.

Misleading draw your own conclusions. I dont think theyre lying about financial details.

 

[Mark Craddock]

As a reminder, in this thread, it was pointed out that 5e sold more than 3e or 3.5 or 4 just two years into its existence. It was also clearly shown that 5e 2024 sold more than that in just a few months.
It continues to sell. The delay of the Monster Manual didn't slow it down.

So when you say that it will take a couple years;
1 - it's already been over a year
2 - it already beat those couple of years and in some cases a decade for other products

These are knowns. It's not corporate speak. It's not a fabrication.

The only way to insist the most popular edition in the history of roleplaying games didn't sell well is to change the meaning of words.

I own 2 stores in KY. I appreciate WotC's data but in both of my stores 2014 core books outsold 2024 core books in the first year. I'm not saying WotC is lying or their data is wrong I'm just sharing my experiences. For my market I think the mass market, like Barnes & Noble, and DnD Beyond's package deal have cut into my sales, which is a natural progression to the game's popularity.

 

[bedir than]

I own 2 stores in KY. I appreciate WotC's data but in both of my stores 2014 core books outsold 2024 core books in the first year. I'm not saying WotC is lying or their data is wrong I'm just sharing my experiences. For my market I think the mass market, like Barnes & Noble, and DnD Beyond's package deal have cut into my sales, which is a natural progression to the game's popularity.

I don't doubt that Beyond is taking away interest from local stores. I hate that.
I'm frequently getting books from my local and getting ones with heavy player options from Beyond too.

 

[Clint_L]

I think that there's an important distinction between creativity and innovation. Creativity often involves iterating on an idea, perhaps offering a new perspective, an expansion, an interesting synthesis, etc. Innovation is creative, for sure, but also suggests significant, even disruptive change from the status quo. Lots of WotC products are very creative, but I suggest that they are seldom innovative, by design. They are the status quo, and have an interest in maintaining that. The last time they really innovated (4e) they put their position as the status quo in jeopardy.

 

[pumasleeve]

I think that there's an important distinction between creativity and innovation. Creativity often involves iterating on an idea, perhaps offering a new perspective, an expansion, an interesting synthesis, etc. Innovation is creative, for sure, but also suggests significant, even disruptive change from the status quo. Lots of WotC products are very creative, but I suggest that they are seldom innovative, by design. They are the status quo, and have an interest in maintaining that. The last time they really innovated (4e) they put their position as the status quo in jeopardy.

Indeed. 5E had so much repurposed 1st ed material that it could almost be considered an OSR product.

 

[MockingBird]

I own 2 stores in KY. I appreciate WotC's data but in both of my stores 2014 core books outsold 2024 core books in the first year. I'm not saying WotC is lying or their data is wrong I'm just sharing my experiences. For my market I think the mass market, like Barnes & Noble, and DnD Beyond's package deal have cut into my sales, which is a natural progression to the game's popularity.

Beyond is where I got the 3 core rules books. Id definitely buy local if my area could support a FLGS. We just have Books a Million.

 

[Mistwell]

As noted earlier, Amazon books are already included in Bookscan.

I know you've said that repeatedly, but that's not quite correct. It includes some Amazon, but not 100%. It appears WOTC intentionally submitted the 2024 books in the "Toys and Games" category (or something similar) instead of the "Book" category for rankings, to match up with the broader Magic the Gathering submissions in "Toys and Games". If a book is submitted to Amazon and categorized as a "toys and games" on the backend, it will likely impact BookScan reporting. BookScan primarily collects sales data for products categorized as "books" by the retailers it partners with.

2014 was submitted as Books.

That's the major difference here I suspect. Bookscan got the 2014 data because it was listed as a book. It's not getting the 2024 data because it's listed as a toy or game.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I know you've said that repeatedly, but that's not quite correct. It includes some Amazon, but not 100%. It appears WOTC intentionally submitted the 2024 books in the "Toys and Games" category (or something similar) instead of the "Book" category for rankings, to match up with the broader Magic the Gathering submissions in "Toys and Games". If a book is submitted to Amazon and categorized as a "toys and games" on the backend, it will likely impact BookScan reporting. BookScan primarily collects sales data for products categorized as "books" by the retailers it partners with.

2014 was submitted as Books.

That's the major difference here I suspect. Bookscan got the 2014 data because it was listed as a book. It's not getting the 2024 data because it's listed as a toy or game.

I believe that the change in distributor from Random House to in house Hasbro is the main reason that they are not on Bookscan.

 

[Superchunk77]

Indeed. 5E had so much repurposed 1st ed material that it could almost be considered an OSR product.

Lol, you must be joking.