D&D's Lack of 2026 Announcements Actually Follows Precedent

Dungeons & Dragons fans seem to have short memories based on the number of speculative articles wondering why Wizards of the Coast hasn't announced any new books for next year. Over the past few weeks, various D&D blogs have speculated about the lack of 2026 announcements. Yes, Wizards of the Coast has underwent some internal turmoil this year, with a number of higher-ups tied to D&D leaving the company and replacements only named relatively recently. And yes, Wizards of the Coast was also hit by a series of delays for various books, with Eberron: Forge of the Artificer bouncing from a summer 2025 release to December due to a printing defect. However, neither of these are likely the reason why Wizards hasn't announced their 2026 slate. In fact, all one has to do is look at the timing of the 2025 announcements to take a deep breath.

Entering 2025, Dungeons & Dragons players only knew of one confirmed release - the 2025 Monster Manual tied to the core rulebooks. A D&D Direct in August 2024 revealed some rough timelines for two other D&D products, but specifics weren't revealed at that time. The rest of the 2025 D&D slate was announced at an embargoed press conference held at Wizards of the Coast's Renton headquarters in January 2025. Most major nerd press outlets, including EN World, were invited to the event. At the event, Dragon Delves, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer, and the Forgotten Realms books were all announced, as was the Starter Set box. The Stranger Things book was also teased as a "mystery" product.

Based on Unearthed Arcana playtests, it appears that the 2026 books will include a Dark Sun book featuring a new Psion class (the first new D&D class in over five years) and a book featuring several arcane subclasses. Wizards has also yet to release a campaign adventure based on the 2024 ruleset. However, the lack of any announcements shouldn't be concerning at all, as this is precisely what Wizards did in 2025 as well.

We'll also point out that D&D has a relatively new marketing manager (Blain Howard, who replaced Greg Tito) and a new PR firm (Tara Bruno PR, replacing 360 PR) for the D&D tabletop group, so any lack of announcements such as the lack of a D&D Direct may be tied to a retooled marketing strategy rather than any other prognosticator of other factors.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I mean, is anyone really looking back at 2025 as a good year overall for Wizards when it comes to DnD marketing and it's reception?

In fact, I'd say 2023 and 2024 were both pretty bad years for Wizards of the Coast. 2023 is when we had the OGL debacle explode in their face, and that led to a flurry of VERY bad press for most of that year. 2024 was decidedly mixed, with the 5.5e rollout being...bumpy, especially since the new MM wasn't due until after the year was already over.

Others have noted that the reception for WotC stuff has been rocky for most of the current decade thus far. Some of that was blowhards blowing hard (e.g. the whinging about "Disneyfication"), but some of it was legitimately folks souring on WotC and even 5th edition overall, regardless of who was making the actual product.

Point being...if we're referring to anything in the past five-ish years, WotC's marketing has not been particularly stellar. Even when it's been good, it hasn't been great--but a lot of the time that it's been bad, it's been terrible.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

That's Clive. Top bloke.

No no, Clive is a blink dog, he's a Barker.

You're thinking Stephen. He's a king among book mimics. Or would that be mimicodices?

 

[Zardnaar]

No no, Clive is a blink dog, he's a Barker.

You're thinking Stephen. He's a king among book mimics. Or would that be mimicodices?

Touche. Clive, Stephen honest mistake.

 

[AlViking]

That's Clive. Top bloke.

You sure it wasn't his sister Paige?

 

[Charlaquin]

In fact, I'd say 2023 and 2024 were both pretty bad years for Wizards of the Coast. 2023 is when we had the OGL debacle explode in their face, and that led to a flurry of VERY bad press for most of that year. 2024 was decidedly mixed, with the 5.5e rollout being...bumpy, especially since the new MM wasn't due until after the year was already over.

Others have noted that the reception for WotC stuff has been rocky for most of the current decade thus far. Some of that was blowhards blowing hard (e.g. the whinging about "Disneyfication"), but some of it was legitimately folks souring on WotC and even 5th edition overall, regardless of who was making the actual product.

Point being...if we're referring to anything in the past five-ish years, WotC's marketing has not been particularly stellar. Even when it's been good, it hasn't been great--but a lot of the time that it's been bad, it's been terrible.

Yeah, while the timing of the 2024 rules change right after the OGL fiasco created the impression that the motivation behind the revision was to create a walled garden, I suspect that was likely secondary to the initial impulse to create a new edition. I remember the prevailing sentiment around that time having been a sort of ennui with 5e. There was a desire for something new within the D&D playing zeitgeist, which I think WotC first tried to appease with Tasha’s, and then with the revised core rules.