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.

 

[TheSword]

These "WotC" is going to do "insert fan fave location book" always turn out the same.

They are never EVER splat books. This won't be an in-depth lore telling of Dark Sun and/or any city/state/region. Just like all the others from Icewind Dale to Dragonlance to WotC-made new setting it will be an adventure book with the most minimum of setting info.

Though what little they do mention could be heavily changed much like in Dragonlance.

Honestly, I expect the lore in this adventure book to be just "Gods left, planet dying, ever watch or play Fallout?"

I would not be surprised in the least if they try to sale this as "D&Ds answer to Fallout".

• I mean Eberron FOTA is and Eberron RFTLW was a splat book.
• The Forgotten Realms players/Dms Guides are and SCAG was a splat book.
• Ravenloft VRGTR is a splatbook
• Planescape has a splatbook as one of its volumes.

Not sure where you get the idea WotC only releases lore through adventures.

Personally I’d prefer lore released through adventures. Tomb of Annihilation and Rime of the Frost Maiden being good examples… Show don’t tell!

 

[BovineofWar]

Not sure where you get the idea WotC only releases lore through adventures.

Personally I’d prefer lore released through adventures. Tomb of Annihilation and Rime of the Frost Maiden being good examples… Show don’t tell!

I'm in total agreement with you. Curse of Strahd was such a great example of Ravenloft, and left room for VRgtR to be a lore book instead of trying to be an adventure/splat book/monster manual all at once.

Ditto with Spelljammer and Planescape. If they had been either lore books or adventures, there would have been enough room to do the setting justice. By trying to do everything, they do a mediocre job of everything.

So my personal hope would be for Dark Sun to be an adventure path with a small rules addendum. If they can swing a double pack like the recent Faerun books, that would be fine, but a single Dark Sun splat book/adventure/lore book/monster manual is never going to have the appropriate amount of depth.

 

[FallenAkriel]

I've been actively DMing in Dark Sun since 97. I own everything with Dark Sun on it. I still love Dark Sun 4E and had a great 3-year campaign in it. I've also been using Dark Sun lore and setting with D&D Next in 2012 and then in 5E.

Here's my take on how WotC will do it. In all cases, I will be super happy as the DMsGuild will be open:
1. 70% chance: They will go the way of Forge of the Artificer with a reference to get the OG box PDF or 4E setting PDF on DMsGuild for more lore/gazetteer. A small player handbook expansion with the final version of the UA Psion class, 2+ new species (Mul and Kreen 2024), how each PHB species handle themselves on Athas, Apocalyptic Subclasses, Feats (like the Psionic ones in the UA), new Backgrounds (similar to those found in FR new PH book), 2-4 pages on Elements instead of Gods, small breakage mechanics and small defiling rules. Some new Hazards & Bastions in a desert environment. Monsters would be in a D&D Beyond DLC expansion.
2. 30% chance: The way they handled Forgotten Realms & DS4E with a Player Expansion & a DM expansion (Gazetteer + Magic Items + Monsters).

 

[Azzy]

but a single Dark Sun splat book/adventure/lore book/monster manual is never going to have the appropriate amount of depth.

I disagree. I think a single book along the lines of the new FR "Heroes" book or the Eberron book would be enough. Darksun's setting is a lot less expansive than the FR's Faerûn and would require less space to properly detail the setting. Though, I'm not against it getting the two-book treatment.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

You want a prediction? One large book plus online only “DLC”.

 

[Nicholas Reed]

WotC will probably avoid the word Savage due to its historical use as a slight against indigenous people, but that doesn't really change much. The world can still be a nightmare by another name. "Harsh", I think, is probably most descriptive.

They literally use the term Savage Frontier in the new Realms books, multiple times.

 

[Nicholas Reed]

So the new Astarion and Netheril books send the majority of this conversation to a farm upstate XD. WotC isn't afraid of going dark, guys lol.

 

[Scribe]

The wheel turns.

 

[Zardnaar]

So the new Astarion and Netheril books send the majority of this conversation to a farm upstate XD. WotC isn't afraid of going dark, guys lol.

Are they out yet?

 

[pukunui]

Are they put yet?

Yes! Just looking at them now.