D&D General Ben Riggs interviews Fred Hicks and Cam Banks, then shares WotC sales data.

[TerraDave]

It feels weird that in less than 10 posts this thread turned into a defense of 2024 D&D, instead of discussing the ramp in popularity (and profit) of 2014 D&D and the things that might have influenced that.

So back to the video. Which is very good.

2014 is in fact a big hit, doubling what had become a fairly diverse source of revenue with rpg sales--which was just those three books and the starter set.

First big development is that there is no drop off, as previously been the case for new editions, at least in over last 40 years. Then sales double around 2017 and keep going up. They mention stranger things (2016) and critical role (mid 2015) in that context. There are other things they do not mention--Curse of Strahd is 2016, Yawning Portal and ToA 2017, DMs Guild is 2016 (they do talk about how much money this was making at Drivethru), DnD beyond is 2017.

Again, its a good video.

 

[Parmandur]

I do think there are a sizable group of people sticking with 5e 2014, I think more than WotC would like. Maybe.

And there are a lot of 2014 PHBs out there.

Still as far as I can tell 2024 is doing ok. We’ll see longer term, especially as peoples current campaigns end.

I don’t think 2024 PHB sales have crashed, come down certainly, but not disastrously so.

I don't think WotC is all thst concerned with getting everyone to upgrade: folks playing older editions still buy Beholder Mr. Potato Heqds and t-shirts. They mostly seem excited by the growing D&D Beyond user base, from 10 million in 2022 to 21 million this Summer.

 

[Reynard]

That assumes a sharp division not in evidence: 2014 era books are still on the marketplace. And are being actively marketed in new books (the new Forgotten Realms books apparently are actively selling the old APs thst are still evergreen sellers).

That was always the intent though, right. They always expected and planned for people being able to buy the modules and campaign settings going forward.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

That was always the intent though, right. They always expected and planned for people being able to buy the modules and campaign settings going forward.

Yup. That was the biggest reason for compatibility.

 

[Lanefan]

Maybe like edition skirmish

The edition war back in the day was pretty nasty, arguments got really really REALLY heated. In comparison most of these arguments are fairly calm.

Welcome to Edition Sport.

 

[Charlaquin]

Maybe like edition skirmish

The edition war back in the day was pretty nasty, arguments got really really REALLY heated. In comparison most of these arguments are fairly calm.

True

 

[Parmandur]

That was always the intent though, right. They always expected and planned for people being able to buy the modules and campaign settings going forward.

Yes, hence why it doesn't seem to keep thwt they care if people upgrade the core books immediately: people using the old books might pick up the new books like Dragon Delves, and keep using Beyond and buying t-shirts t-shirts such.