D&D (2024) Where to next, WotC?

[Mercurius]

Some of you might remember the charts I used to share, that look liked this:

I actually did them for every edition, though I was in the process of revising them a few years ago and got bogged down in 2E and gave up. Anyhow, I tried updating this one as a reference point for discussion, namely the question:

Given the shape of the editions product line thus far, what can we project going forward in the "2024 Edition" era?

I know there's a thread on "2026 wishlist," but I haven't followed every discussion and I'm wondering if people have any speculation on where they might be navigating the ship - both in terms of type of products, patterns of product releases, and number of major releases. A few thoughts to consider:

• General: After 2014 and the release of the core rules, WotC published three books per year in 2015-17, four in 2018-20 (plus some extras), five in 2021-22, four in 2023, five in 2024, and a planned six this year (plus the starter set), though I believe the MM was originally slated for 2024, so that number isn't necessarily the "new norm." So it remains to be seen whether they'll continue with five major releases a year or are going up to six.
• Rules/Splats: From 2016 on hit has consistently been one per year, although variable in type. But it seems likely that this will continue, with a new splat in 2026.
• Adventures: At least two books per year in every year except 2020, which was a strange year for some unknown reason. Starting in 2017, in most years it has been one story arc and one adventure compilation.
• Settings: After the "hybrid" Sword Coast book in 2015, WotC started publishing at least one setting book per year in 2018 through 2023, and then again in 2025 (forthcoming). This included classic settings in 2019, 2021-23; Magic settings in 2018, 2020-21; and 1 new (to WotC) setting in 2020 (Wildemount).

Some questions I have are:

• To what degree are they going to re-incorporate/re-use old material from 2014-23 in upcoming books? For instance, Monsters of the Multiverse already "revised" two earlier works, but if they were to do a "Monster Manual 2" or "Fiend Folio," might they draw upon past books and put them in the 2025 MM format?
• What settings will they cover after the Forgotten Realms, and will they start back up with Magic settings? (I know rumors of Tarkir have gained some traction of late)
• What design space is there for non-monster splats that aren't rehashing Xanathar and Tasha, some of which was already incorporated into the new core rulebooks?
• Will we ever see 5E Dark Sun? I mean, wouldn't a slipcase set make too much sense not to do?
• Is there any way they might break from the already established mold of 1 splat, 2 adventure books, 1-2 settings?
• Are there still new settings in the works?

p.s. If there are any errors above, please let me know and I can fix it and re-post. I'm not 100% sure my color coding is the "best" way to go, but I mainly wanted to differentiate rules/splats (green), settings (magenta), and adventures (blue).

 

[JEB]

• To what degree are they going to re-incorporate/re-use old material from 2014-23 in upcoming books? For instance, Monsters of the Multiverse already "revised" two earlier works, but if they were to do a "Monster Manual 2" or "Fiend Folio," might they draw upon past books and put them in the 2025 MM format?

I think we can pretty much guarantee that anything reasonably popular from the 2014 era is going to get a 2024 update. Though they're likely to wait longer before updating the MOTM-era material, since it was designed with forward compatibility in mind (if imperfectly so in the end).

• What settings will they cover after the Forgotten Realms, and will they start back up with Magic settings? (I know rumors of Tarkir have gained some traction of late)

I believe they just recently expressed interest in Universes Beyond style material for D&D, so I assume we'll see more Magic based settings. Maybe even other licenses (since that's Universes Beyond's shtick).

• What design space is there for non-monster splats that aren't rehashing Xanathar and Tasha, some of which was already incorporated into the new core rulebooks?

Good question. They have years of material to rehash first, though.

• Will we ever see 5E Dark Sun? I mean, wouldn't a slipcase set make too much sense not to do?

Prior to the mention in the 2024 core rules, by their own statements, I assumed the chances were zero ("Doomspace" being as close as they were willing to get it). Now it actually seems possible, though I assume it's going to be very different from the earlier incarnations (even the 4e version).

• Is there any way they might break from the already established mold of 1 splat, 2 adventure books, 1-2 settings?

Is there a good reason to? It seems to have worked pretty well for them.

• Are there still new settings in the works?

There should be, but I suspect those plans were abandoned after Winninger left.

 

[bedir than]

They've hinted at a Universes Beyond style thing for D&D. Which could mean partnerships with big fantasy brands to tell those stories using D&D as the engine

 

[Mercurius]

I think we can pretty much guarantee that anything reasonably popular from the 2014 era is going to get a 2024 update. Though they're likely to wait longer before updating the MOTM-era material, since it was designed with forward compatibility in mind (if imperfectly so in the end).

Hmm...I could see them doing so selectively, but I don't see them re-doing all the story arcs.

I believe they just recently expressed interest in Universes Beyond style material for D&D, so I assume we'll see more Magic based settings. Maybe even other licenses (since that's Universes Beyond's shtick).

I've seen "Universes Beyond" mentioned, but don't know what it is beyond inference. Is there a link I can check out?

Good question. They have years of material to rehash first, though.

Again, I could see them doing some of both, but think they'll feel obligated to have the focus be on mostly new stuff - at least in terms of the core release schedule. But maybe something like 4 new books, 2 revised/re-workings.

There should be, but I suspect those plans were abandoned after Winninger left.

That would be such a shame...always into new worlds to imagine into...

 

[dave2008]

• Adventures: At least two books per year in every year except 2020, which was a strange year for some unknown reason. Starting in 2017, in most years it has been one story arc and one adventure compilation.

I would agree Covid was strange and surprising thing!

 

[Mercurius]

I would agree Covid was strange and surprising thing!

I tend to prefer a more subtle approach, through implication

 

[Hussar]

I wonder, and this is pure speculation, if the addition of various 3pp books on DnD beyond might tie in to WotC publications. If a 3pp book sells spectacularly well, might WotC not do a tie in like they did with Exandria?

Now, since WotC seems to be planning about 3-4 years ahead of release, we likely won’t see this for a while.

 

[JEB]

Hmm...I could see them doing so selectively, but I don't see them re-doing all the story arcs.

Agreed, that's why I said "anything reasonably popular".

I've seen "Universes Beyond" mentioned, but don't know what it is beyond inference. Is there a link I can check out?

Universes Beyond

Universes Beyond (abbreviated as UB[1]) is a “sub-brand” of Magic: The Gathering that exists in addition to, and alongside, the regular line of products.[2] Not unlike the original Deckmaster concept, Universes Beyond is a series that combines the gameplay of Magic: The Gathering with worlds...

mtg.fandom.com

 

[Mercurius]

I wonder, and this is pure speculation, if the addition of various 3pp books on DnD beyond might tie in to WotC publications. If a 3pp book sells spectacularly well, might WotC not do a tie in like they did with Exandria?

Now, since WotC seems to be planning about 3-4 years ahead of release, we likely won’t see this for a while.

This reminds me what occasionally happens with self-publishing: if it is popular enough, a big publisher snatches it up and (re)publishes under their imprint. Obviously rare, but not entirely so.

 

[sevenbastard]

That chart was helpful. But man I beat the 2e one is a beast