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.

 

[mearls]

From the transcript:



For D&D, the updated Player’s Handbook for fifth edition is now our fastest selling product in D&D’s 50-year history, beating plan by over 50%. And our acquisition of D&D Beyond continues to pay off, driving D&D’s total mix of direct-to-consumer revenue from zero at the time of acquisition, to 60% today, with registered users more than doubling to 19 million. I’m excited for fans to get their hands on the new Dungeon Master’s Guide releasing next month. The new artwork is a hit and the streamlined introduction to running campaigns has been met with stellar early reviews.

That makes a ton more sense, and puts everything into perspective. The numbers they talked about line up with 60% of their sales being direct. That lines up well with distributors, retailers, etc.

It's great to see the revision meeting with success. I've been using it in my games - and even mixing 2014 and 2024 content seamlessly - and it has worked out great.

The even better news is that it shows that the growth during the pandemic is still there. Obviously the numbers are going to go down, but we're in a situation where the growth in TTRPGs is proving durable. That's awesome news!

 

[Parmandur]

That makes a ton more sense, and puts everything into perspective. The numbers they talked about line up with 60% of their sales being direct. That lines up well with distributors, retailers, etc.

It's great to see the revision meeting with success. I've been using it in my games - and even mixing 2014 and 2024 content seamlessly - and it has worked out great.

The even better news is that it shows that the growth during the pandemic is still there. Obviously the numbers are going to go down, but we're in a situation where the growth in TTRPGs is proving durable. That's awesome news!

Guess thst answers the question about whether WotC is doing OK with direct to customer sales...

 

[darjr]

So the subscriber base might be 2-3 million?

60 million a year?

Maybe?

 

[Oofta]

So the subscriber base might be 2-3 million?

60 million a year?

Maybe?

Nah, haven't you heard? D&D is dying! On it's last legs! Any day now.

 

[Zardnaar]

So the subscriber base might be 2-3 million?

60 million a year?

Maybe?

At 18 million they had 2 million active users apparently.

 

[darjr]

At 18 million they had 2 million active users apparently.

Where is the 2 million from. Apologies my brain is a little wack doo at the moment.

 

[darjr]

Nah, haven't you heard? D&D is dying! On it's last legs! Any day now.

Note though that was a wild ass guess.

 

[CleverNickName]

"The dynamics we’re observing across Magic and D&D, in both analog and digital, reinforce our confidence in the long-term health of the brands."

Sounds like good news.

 

[Zardnaar]

Where is the 2 million from. Apologies my brain is a little wack doo at the moment.

Bob the World builder did a video on it. He got the numbers from D&D beyond iirc.

 

[DinoInDisguise]

Nah, haven't you heard? D&D is dying! On it's last legs! Any day now.

I think the answer is to bring back the percentage tables from 1e. Because the simplification to straight roll without a table was too much. These new school gamers are ruining it.