Wizards of the Coast Re-Registers Dark Sun With USPTO

Wizards of the Coast recently filed an application to register Dark Sun in the US, a sign that D&D could be bringing back the campaign setting in the near future. The trademark claim was filed on October 13th, 2025 and is poised to replace a previous trademark that was cancelled by the USPTO in 2024. The trademark, like most involving D&D properties, covers both "downloadable electronic games," "games and playthings," and "entertainment services." Similar active trademarks exist for other D&D campaign settings such as Spelljammer and Forgotten Realms, although neither of those have lapsed in recent years.

We'll note that, as the previous Dark Sun trademark lapsed a year ago, this could be a case of simple paperwork, or it could be the latest sign that a Dark Sun product is eminent. Earlier this year, Wizards released an Unearthed Arcana for the Psion class and several subclasses that all but spelled out a return to the setting, complete with mentions of sorcerer-kings, gladiatorial fights, and preservers and defilers.

 

[Chaltab]

Should the ardent class (3.5 complete psionic) to be allowed in Athas?

I don't see why not

 

[overgeeked]

Slavery is an excellent example of a thing to fight against, where you can smite the slavers with no regrets.

Exactly. Like robots and Nazis, slavers are perennial favorite villains because they can be fought and killed with zero moral problems.

 

[nevin]

There are people who will be really happy if Dark Sun happens. There will also be a lot of people that will be really unhappy with whatever WotC does with it.

I just wish they would do something NEW.

new doesn't seem to work for them. Like most big companies thier layers of management, (including hasbro) , seem to be a problem in that area.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

For everyone saying that they're not going to include slavery in D&D, am I mistaken or did they not explicitly include slavery among the drow and red wizards in the recent forgotten Realms book?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

For everyone saying that they're not going to include slavery in D&D, am I mistaken or did they not explicitly include slavery among the drow and red wizards in the recent forgotten Realms book?

They did. I think they're okay with including slavery as a concept, when it comes to villains, but I think an earlier suggestion in this thread is correct: There won't (likely) be things like "Escaped Slave" as a Background, or an adventure where you start as a slave. Of course, everyone would be free to use those stories in their home games, as usual.

Edit: I don't mean that those stories are usual, I mean that you can usually use whatever stories you like in your home games. It's probably clear, but y'know. Internet communication.

 

[nevin]

For everyone saying that they're not going to include slavery in D&D, am I mistaken or did they not explicitly include slavery among the drow and red wizards in the recent forgotten Realms book?

and pirates and brothels and Thay and other kingdom's trade in flesh as well. Trying to avoid Bad guys because they are bad really takes away story options for hero's who want to be hero's. I've never ever understood the idea of scrubbing the Nazi-esque bad guys out of the worlds. That just means these fantasy worlds are better off than ours and the hero's probably aren't needed.

 

[nevin]

Part of me would like to see a new Dark Sun set. But it wasn't as popular as most people seem to remember, and I figure it'll be so watered down I"ll just end up borrowing some mechanics and using my old stuff if I ever find a table that want's to play it. As much as I love Dark Sun over the years I've just come to the conclusion they should have put all those cool Ideas into Gamma World and made a Sci Fi Post apocalyptic setting. At least the target audience for that is identifiable.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

D&D more popular, ergo is more attractive to people who want to make a quick buck rather than actually create something. The less popular the ruleset, the more dedicated you have to be to want to make something for it. DMG in effect filters out the less popular rulesets.

I suspect they also have different moderation guidelines.

 

[Zardnaar]

12-18 are more common than 40+ by far
Additionally, plenty of D&D players on social media think that respecting the rights and traditions of others is possible in D&D. They run the largest APs even.
Respect isn't a puritan ideal.

Slavery is present in every "era" of WotC D&D. There's no new direction.

Iirc with wotc own numbers its a similar amout around 25% combined (kids and over 40).

The other 75% are adults 18-39.

So yeah kids are very small amount.

A full blood and gore BG3 book would have a far larger target market than fluffy bunnies D&D edition.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Can’t wait to see the new info about the loving city where everyone of any species is welcome. The art will be great. People in rags holding hands while kids play in the sand covered streets. A cannibal halfling being served a freshly cut arm at an outdoor diner nearby. A wizard draining the life out of a potted plant to make fireworks for an in-awe crowd of onlookers.