D&D 5E (2024) When are we getting announcements for 2026 books?

[Remathilis]

Dark Sun really? WotC hasn't been willing to touch that for a few years now. What evidence is there they've changed their mind about it?

It's named in the list of D&D settings in the 2024 DMG. Every setting on that list has a campaign book in 5e except Dark Sun.

 

[Distracted DM]

My brother-in-law ran it for us as a full on Comedy, which the text encourages, and as Pratchett-esque parody of Wrekend in Hell? Fantastic.

Just a note: the text doesn't encourage running CoS as a full-on comedy. It does recommend using moments of humor to lighten the oppressive gloom of the dark nature of the adventure.

That being said, I did steal Discworld's Igor-family concept pretty much whole-cloth and inserted it into my CoS run.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Well, last year we got that announcement at the very end of August...but a lot has changed since then, and that wasn't a regular established rather previously anyways.

So, maybe soon, maybe not for a while?

I mean they did say the 3rd DLC would be announced soon, so maybe there will be another D&D Director or D&D Celelebration last August, early September?

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Dark Sun's not coming.

After releasing only two books from January through August, the end of this year is very release-heavy for official D&D. They have to sell two boxed Starter Sets (mid Sep & early Oct), the two Forgotten Realms books (both releasing Nov 11th), and Eberron: Forge of the Artificer (early December).

That's two boxed sets and three hardcovers all releasing between Sep 16 - Dec 5, 2025, with just weeks between each release. That's already too many books to market effectively; I can understand them not trying to also put focus on MORE stuff coming after that.

Not coming THIS YEAR, this about next year & the year after that.

 

[Remathilis]

Just a note: the text doesn't encourage running CoS as a full-on comedy. It does recommend using moments of humor to lighten the oppressive gloom of the dark nature of the adventure.

That being said, I did steal Discworld's Igor-family concept pretty much whole-cloth and inserted it into my CoS run.

I treated much of Villaki as dark comedy, with the "all will be well" and Blinksy. Then again, much of my Ravenloft has a dreamy, surreal element to it so weird "Halloween town" elements work quite well.

 

[DavyGreenwind]

Dark Sun really? WotC hasn't been willing to touch that for a few years now. What evidence is there they've changed their mind about it?

Yeah, to echo other people: it was the only setting name-dropped in DMG without a 5e book, and the psionics playtest used a bunch of Dark Sun sounding terms.

 

[Remathilis]

Yeah, to echo other people: it was the only setting name-dropped in DMG without a 5e book, and the psionics playtest used a bunch of Dark Sun sounding terms.

Up to the 2024 DMG, I had written off Dark Sun as unsalvageable. Apparently WotC has other plans. The psion UA further tells me it's not only inevitable, but actively in development. I fully expect this will be a rebooted Dark Sun in the vein of Ravenloft or Spelljammer, but I think it's definitely being worked on and maybe, if they play their cards right, might make my actually care about Athas as a setting.

 

[Garmel]

I hope they don't soften the setting any. The Dark Sun is portrayed as an awful place in need of heroes and it needs to stay that way.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Radiant Citadel stuff was all on other worlds, but two Candlekeep Mysteries remain in Candlekeep proper.

Aside from Yawning Portal, which was about nothing burger joke of a link because they were anticipating the Wayerdeep film from Warner Bros that fell through (hence also everything in the Waterdeep adventures, and putting Xanathar on the Everything book), I've always thought it would be fun to mix those frmae stories: have the Golden Vault operate out of the radiant Citadel, move Candlekeep and the Noble Genie dude to the Citadel...

This is the first I'm hearing about a Waterdeep film. This was in production concurrent with honor among thieves? Where can I read more about this

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I too think that we will see Dark Sun next year. A couple of years ago, Ajit George (I think it was) threw his hat in the ring with his ideas on how to make it work in a modern market. Even if he isn't one of the contributors, (and he probably will be), I could see how his interest (or his pitch) could convince WotC to take another look at it with fresh eyes.

It certainly CAN be done.