D&D 5E (2024) D&D 2024 Is Now OFFICIALLY Called "5.5e"

Settling a debate that has lasted for over two years, the current edition of Dungeons & Dragons, which has been known by various names up until now, has finally received an official designation: D&D 5.5e.

Previously, the current ruleset was referred to as 'One D&D', before becoming 'D&D 2024'. Other variations exist, but the most common version used by fans was D&D 5.5.

The 5.5 terminology echoes the edition names used in the early 2000s for D&D 3E and D&D 3.5.

D&D Beyond has an FAQ related to the name change. In it, they say that "Earlier on, [the 2024 rules] were referred to differently. As D&D Beyond evolved and more players used both versions side by side, it became clear that “5.5e” matched how the community already talks about the game and made things easier to understand."

The terminology will be used going forward on D&D Beyond, although unlike the 3E/3.5 hardcovers, the physical book titles will not include any edition designations.

The 2014 edition of D&D is to continue to be called "5e", with the 2024 version being "5.5e". WotC says that "5.5e refers to content that uses the 2024 updated core rules, which are fully compatible with Fifth Edition."

Despite including the "e" (for "edition") WotC continues to maintain that 5.5e is not a new edition, and merely a 'rules update', or 'version'. Whether 'edition' and 'version' are synonyms or not we'll leave people to debate.

The logo at the top of the page is our own mockup to represent the news, and is not an offical rebranding.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

My only issue with the new change is that I think they should have called the original product "5.0" or "5.0e" or the like.

That way, you'd have three labels:

• 5e/"Fifth Edition": Umbrella term for all games which are published under this ruleset
• 5.0(e)/"Fifth Edition (Original)"/"Five-oh": Specific term for what used to be called "2014" or "5.14(e)" or whatever else
• 5.5(e)/"Fifth Edition (Revised)"/"Five-point-five": Specific term for what used to be called "2024" or "5.24(e)" or w/e else

That way, "5e" continues to be a generic label, and products wishing to be more specific about what particular subset of the rules it applies to can use the more-specific variants within.

 

[Minigiant]

My only issue with the new change is that I think they should have called the original product "5.0" or "5.0e" or the like.

That way, you'd have three labels:

• 5e/"Fifth Edition": Umbrella term for all games which are published under this ruleset
• 5.0(e)/"Fifth Edition (Original)"/"Five-oh": Specific term for what used to be called "2014" or "5.14(e)" or whatever else
• 5.5(e)/"Fifth Edition (Revised)"/"Five-point-five": Specific term for what used to be called "2024" or "5.24(e)" or w/e else

That way, "5e" continues to be a generic label, and products wishing to be more specific about what particular subset of the rules it applies to can use the more-specific variants within.

Too late for that.

Too few people called 2014 5.0e to retroactively rename it that.

 

[Pedantic]

As soon as they began changing things in clearly non-errata ways, they were into new edition territory. It was all just a question of how much, and the historical example of not changing your core engine but changing your rules was right there with 3.5....so I'm not really sure what they were expecting. This felt inevitable.