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.

 

[Seramus]

 

[Dire Bare]

The opinion that perhaps matters the most for publishers is DriveThruRPG. If they create a new category that will be seismic, but show no signs of doing so. There's 5E-compatible or there isn't, not 5E-2014 vs. 5E-2024.

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I hope they don't! But seems unlikely, as the 3E variants all get one big category. We'll see . . .

 

[Nikosandros]

Shrugs. I was calling it 2024, because it seemed to me (erroneously as it turns out) that it was the most widespread moniker. 5.5 also works for me. Margaret or Jacob would also have been fine... i.e. the label is not very important, as long as it is widely understood. Back in the 80's, AFAIK, no one was calling D&D variants as BECMI or B/X, but the terms are now widely accepted and I use them...

 

[Minigiant]

This. I was kinda blown away the D&D team didn't anticipate the problem created by refusing to give a clear label to the revised rules. It felt out of touch with the community. This new change feels like moving in the right direction, being at least a little more in tune with the community.

I dont think it was not anticipated.

I think they were more worried that a new name would confuse people into not thinking the revision was not compatible with the original.

And I kinda get it. They barely changed much and many fans were still confused.

 

[Dire Bare]

They had an official label. It was 2024.

Now they have all these books in print that refer to 2024 versions and a website referring to 5.5. I think they are making a mess.

Sure. So why was everyone confused then?

D&D 2024 wasn't really a label, but rather a description. An awkward one at that. Hence the ensuing confusion and arguments in the fan community and amongst publishers.

Will 5.5e work to reduce that confusion? I think so, but . . . we'll see. We D&D fans can be a stubborn, argumentative bunch.

 

[Scribe]

They had an official label. It was 2024.

Now they have all these books in print that refer to 2024 versions and a website referring to 5.5. I think they are making a mess.

Its a mess for nobody, everyone knew what 5.5 meant, and now Wizards has just made the logical acknowledgment of what everyone else has known and understood for (literally) years.

 

[Dire Bare]

I dont think it was not anticipated.

I think they were more worried that a new name would confuse people into not thinking the revision was not compatible with the original.

And I kinda get it. They barely changed much and many fans were still confused.

Yeah.

Back in the day with the 3E revision, the fan community started the whole "3.5e" thing and WotC adopted it somewhat mischievously . . . and then were surprised when many fans and publishers assumed 3.0 and 3.5 were incompatible games. They were definitely trying to avoid that mess, but unsuccessfully so.

I would have just leaned in to what fans are doing anyway, while doing my best to make it crystal clear that "5.5e is not a new game". No choice would have prevented some fans and publishers from assuming otherwise anyway, but . . .

 

[mamba]

If I had my way (and I've never expected to) I'd have replaced the decimal with the "e" and called it 5e24.

yeah, this just might come back to haunt them with the next compatible release in 7 or so years

 

[Zaukrie]

I have no idea why anyone cares.

 

[AlViking]

Clarity.

People were using 5e for the original and revision due to no official shorthand.

With a shorthand, people are more likely to specify.

I guess I don't see that it's a big issue one way or another as long as rules are backwards compatible unless there's a newer version. Someone at WOTC calling it 5.5 doesn't change anything.