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

[Parmandur]

Edition war in 2008:
"How dare you! This is an outrage! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"

Edition war in 2025:
"I disagree, but whatever. Also you're an elderberry or something." (checks watch) "Welp, gotta go pick up the kids. Same time tomorrow?"

This is more Edition Kvetching.

 

[Zardnaar]

The only indicator I see that it sold more than expected is that gaming stores were having trouble keeping it stocked. The rest of the statements all sound more like post hoc spin to me. Not that I think it's doing badly, just that if you follow them logically, they don't actually tell you how it's doing in comparison, which is what we as fans are really curious about.

That was early on near release. We dont know print runs, printing capacity etc.

Edition war in 2008:
"How dare you! This is an outrage! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"

Edition war in 2025:
"I disagree, but whatever. Also you're an elderberry or something." (checks watch) "Welp, gotta go pick up the kids. Same time tomorrow?"

5.5 the negative is more indifference.

 

[Reynard]

I mean, I only have books personally so they can't. But I doubt they will, either, the money comes from getting people to engage the brand more than selling the game. They have no incentive to force upgrades when they can juat play the evergreen strategy.

I am curious why you think it is unlikely. it isn't like they ae going to keep the 2014 core rule books in print. Why would they be so magnanimous on D&DB?

 

[Parmandur]

I am curious why you think it is unlikely. it isn't like they ae going to keep the 2014 core rule books in print. Why would they be so magnanimous on D&DB?

Oh, I am talking about all the other books, not the core. But they have no reason to cut access, even if they don't sell the old books anymore. The point is to keep people playing, and keep them on Beyond. Why give anyone a reason to offramp?

 

[AlViking]

That was early on near release. We dont know print runs, printing capacity etc.

5.5 the negatie is more indifference.

Yes ... the indifference that has people talking about it constantly bringing it up and looking for any reason to say that the 2024 books aren't selling well. Meanwhile HASBRO isn't actually committing fraud by deceiving investors, it's just that anything positive is only "spin" that can't in any way be trusted.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yes ... the indifference that has people talking about it constantly bringing it up and looking for any reason to say that the 2024 books aren't selling well. Meanwhile HASBRO isn't actually committing fraud by deceiving investors, it's just that anything positive is only "spin" that can't in any way be trusted.

I dont think theyre lying. They are spinning the cra out of their statements though and have been for years lol.

I dont think 5.5 is tanking in any way.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

The real test of 2024 edition will be how well the FR books/Bundle sells.

 

[AlViking]

I dont think theyre lying. They are spinning the cra out of their statements though and have been for years lol.

I dont think 5.5 is tanking in any way.

You just gave an example of exactly what I was saying. They aren't lying because that could get them into trouble they're just "spinning the crap out of their statements".

Why would they need to do that if the sales were meeting expectations? If it's doing okay there's no need for spin.

 

[Scribe]

The real test of 2024 edition will be how well the FR books/Bundle sells.

I don't think so. The test will be, can they attract or grow the 3rd party ecosystem to grow the user base.

It wasn't D&D/Wizards that did it for 5e.

 

[FrogReaver]

I dont think theyre lying. They are spinning the cra out of their statements though and have been for years lol.

I dont think 5.5 is tanking in any way.

Standard corporate practices.