GreyLord
Legend
In my area 3rd edition was NEVER in the big box stores or even retail stores for the most part. Even AD&D was in more retail stores than 3e was in my area of the world and where I visited.
Retailers that had held the late AD&D 2e stuff (such as the now extinct Mediaplay or other locales) carried it, but none of the big retailers.
I only started to see D&D in the big retailers over the past 10 years with 5e stuff. Even then, they normally will only carry the Starter sets (essentials as well at Target), and perhaps the core books in general (though, the PHB is more often seen than the others). I have seen some of the more diverse stuff (Planescape for example) at Walmart and other retailers a few weeks after general release.
In that light I'd say it's bigger these days and a better seller, putting it on the retailers target lists.
It fell off in the mid to late 90s due to lagging sales. If it won't sell well enough, than it won't make the big retailers shelves.
Retailers that had held the late AD&D 2e stuff (such as the now extinct Mediaplay or other locales) carried it, but none of the big retailers.
I only started to see D&D in the big retailers over the past 10 years with 5e stuff. Even then, they normally will only carry the Starter sets (essentials as well at Target), and perhaps the core books in general (though, the PHB is more often seen than the others). I have seen some of the more diverse stuff (Planescape for example) at Walmart and other retailers a few weeks after general release.
In that light I'd say it's bigger these days and a better seller, putting it on the retailers target lists.
It fell off in the mid to late 90s due to lagging sales. If it won't sell well enough, than it won't make the big retailers shelves.