D&D (2024) 2024 Player’s Handbook is ‘Fastest Selling D&D Book Ever’

It’s only officially been out for a week, but according to Wizards of the Coast, the new Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook has already surpassed Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything to become the fastest selling D&D book ever—in the entire 50-year history of the game. It has sold three times as many copies as the 2014 version of the books did at launch.

Not only that, the 2024 Player’s Handbook was the biggest print run in D&D’s history.

In a press release today, WotC claims more than 85 million D&D fans worldwide, and says that D&D Beyond, the game’s official online platform, has over 18 million users.

 

[Oofta]

2014 or 24? Either way is no. I didn't say much about 2014 iirc and I'm expecting a 30-50 decline with 2024 over the editions lifespan. And could be completely wrong (looking at 1E to 2E or 3.0 to 3.5).

That's not what I remember, but I'm not going to look back that far.

In any case I don't see a reason to believe there will be a big drop-off in the longer term.
There could be a plateau, especially in the North American market and we have no idea how to track sales anywhere else that I know of. But a 30-50% decline? I doubt it, 5E was due for some updates. The new PHB is probably one of the best versions for newbies we've seen.

But WotC is the only one that really knows and they rarely share details.

 

[Zardnaar]

That's not what I remember, but I'm not going to look back that far.

In any case I don't see a reason to believe there will be a big drop-off in the longer term.
There could be a plateau, especially in the North American market and we have no idea how to track sales anywhere else that I know of. But a 30-50% decline? I doubt it, 5E was due for some updates. The new PHB is probably one of the best versions for newbies we've seen.

But WotC is the only one that really knows and they rarely share details.

Revisions dont sell as well as the original. 2024 might buck the trend. It will be a first.

That's my logic. Even if they lose 50% it's still outsold the popular editions 2 or 3 to one of the 6 million estimate is ball park figures accurate.

 

[The Soloist]

Remember that because they are a company with shares, they cannot lie about their sales numbers. If they do it’s a felony.

 

[Vaalingrade]

That an action would be a crime does nothing to convince me a company wouldn't do it.

Not that I believe they're lying, but yeah... a crime is always a fine for a company and a fine's a fee: the price of doing business.

 

[FrogReaver]

Remember that because they are a company shares, they cannot lie about their sales numbers. If they do it’s a felony.

Then why do publicly traded companys lie all the time?

 

[Oofta]

Then why do publicly traded companys lie all the time?

Big difference between lying and "spin". In the case of WotC though, they don't ever have to give out exact numbers and never have unless I missed it. That, and while I see no reason to believe they'll stop selling books (physical books are preferred over e-books for the under 25 crowd), there is also DDB and 3PP VTTs to access the rules.

 

[Zardnaar]

Big difference between lying and "spin". In the case of WotC though, they don't ever have to give out exact numbers and never have unless I missed it. That, and while I see no reason to believe they'll stop selling books (physical books are preferred over e-books for the under 25 crowd), there is also DDB and 3PP VTTs to access the rules.

They also rarely give out hard numbers. Let's people do wonky math to conjure up massive numbers.

 

[Juxtapozbliss]

10 days later, anyone have updates to the Bookscan results?

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

10 days later, anyone have updates to the Bookscan results?

After listening to some videos, I can say with confidence that the 2024 PHB sold exactly 3 books, 2 of which were bought by Crawford's mom.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

After listening to some videos, I can say with confidence that the 2024 PHB sold exactly 3 books, 2 of which were bought by Crawford's mom.

I thought I had bought a book, but I'm clearly mistaken.