D&D 5E (2024) Predict WotC's 2026 D&D releases

[bedir than]

Q1 and Q2 last year featured a single book -- which only happened because of production scale delays.
And yet 2025 was one of the busiest release schedules overall.

There's certainly still space for a setting (Dark Sun), and adventure (Strahdy/Thay/other), a MtG (which is my thought for the splatty options).

 

[Remathilis]

I am absolutely not a fan of the 2024 update, but I don't expect them to replace it. People seem to be adopting it and 3PPs are updating some of their bigger books for it via KSers etc. I assume it is here to stay for a while (sadly).

At the very least, I expect three years of solid releases before any serious reevaluating happens. Then another couple years for them to do internal design and announcements, followed by a huge playtest schedule. There is absolutely no way in 2026 they are winding down production already. We barely reached the 1 year anniversary of the new MM!

So when I see "2024 failed, WotC fast tracking 6e (or 7e or whatever)" I see that as hopium more than analysis.

 

[bedir than]

A hint from a partner?

 

[Rainbow Scissors]

The answer inevitably ends up "I don't like it, so it failed and I'm waiting for the next new hype."

That's a rather bold assumption, but no.

It is true that 2024 is not quite what I had hoped it would be, but D&D is still the game that my group plays.

The answer is that I have seen a similar pattern for multiple editions in a row + a noticeable change in staff (even for WotC) combined with a noticeable change in design philosophy + stories about how things are going on the corporate side of the company and how corporate desires have influenced decisions about the game previously.

The time between Book of 9 Swords and 4E being released was about 2 years. Toward the end, there were a bunch of similar products to what we're seeing now pumped out. Including things like premium reprints, with leather covers and shiny silver pages.

There were about 3 years between 4E Essentials and the release of 5th Edition.

5E24 was released in 2024. Writing, production, layout, playtesting, and all of that sort of thing takes time. 2027 would not be an unusual time to show (or possibly even release) 6E.

 

[bedir than]

Toward the end, there were a bunch of similar products to what we're seeing now pumped out. Including things like premium reprints, with leather covers and shiny silver pages.

You know that WotC hasn't done any of this for 2024, right?

 

[Reynard]

A hint from a partner?

That's just a board game, right?

 

[bedir than]

That's just a board game, right?

Yes, they did a D&D Horrified recently. It was a collection of D&D IP monsters, where this feels different

 

[Remathilis]

You know that WotC hasn't done any of this for 2024, right?

Clearly he thinks the last year was just fancy reprints of the PHB, DMG, MM, SCAG and RftLW...