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.

 

[overgeeked]

Others have already said this, but people are going to scream no matter what WotC does. I can't help but think the people who have very strong feelings about Dark Sun are going to be older folk like me who don't really matter much from a demographic point of view.

I am older and have almost embarrassingly strong feelings about Dark Sun. I'm not WotC's target audience. I likely haven't been for years despite their clear nostalgia bait. I know they won't just reprint the OG boxed set. Of course they won't. I know they will make changes. Of course they will. Just look at all the other settings updated for 5E.

I don't want the setting preserved in amber, unchanged for all time. Of course not.

I just want them to do it justice. A thoughtful and faithful update to the setting. Don't strip out what makes it unique to cater to the masses. Make a Dark Sun update for the fans of Dark Sun. Don't mutilate the setting in hopes of wider appeal. It's a grimdark, biopunk wasteland where the bad guys won generations ago. Let it be that.

But, given it's WotC we're talking about, I know that's like asking for a pony for Xmas.

Which is why I only really care about them opening Dark Sun up on the DM's Guild. The fans will do it justice in the aggregate even if WotC refuses to.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

For people who want better naval rules, here's the 5E version of Pirate Borg's very good naval rules.

Wow, I've read a whole lot of Naval Rules, but most of them are (for me) too cumbersome. This hits a sweet spot, I think. I'll have to give it a try! Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[talorien508]

I love Dark Sun and run my own home brew 5e version using the source material from the original box set.

I wasn't a fan of the 4e version and I don't expect to love any new Dark Sun version either, I guess I'm ambivalent about it. If they make it, great. If not, that's great as well, to my mind.

I just don't think it's possible to do it justice. t's pretty tough to die in 5e which is sort of antithetical to the feel of the setting. Some people have also said the lore is problematic, so it would be changed. I would be interested to see what they do with it, but expect I would be disappointed.

For 4e, Goliaths are not Half-Giants, for example. I expect they would continue to lean into that

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Emphasis mine.

I was under the impression that there was at least one more recent survey.

 

[overgeeked]

I was under the impression that there was at least one more recent survey.

Absolutely could be. That’s the one I remember being talked about the most.

 

[Remathilis]

I just don't think it's possible to do it justice. t's pretty tough to die in 5e which is sort of antithetical to the feel of the setting. Some people have also said the lore is problematic, so it would be changed. I would be interested to see what they do with it, but expect I would be disappointed.

Dark Sun is anti-D&D. It was designed to be anti-D&D from the jump and had only grown more Anti-D&D as D&D has changed over 30 years. Which means either Dark Sun stops being Anti-D&D or Dark Sun completely severs from D&D and Becomes it's own thing. Obviously, the latter isn't looking very likely.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Easy
Wotc won't even acknowledge yoyo healing and would need to fix it along with a few other similar problems to hit the themes and tone of playing dark sun

My opinion is that this doesn’t matter to settings certainly not to the ones already out.