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.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I’ve never used DM’s Guild—how bad is it?

It's a new phenomenon, but while on DriveThruRPG, one might see AI generated art on a product (and even then, a large minority of products at worst), on DMs Guild, there are whole products that clearly were created, start to finish, by AI, with no obvious reason anyone would buy it.

Like, who's the audience for AI-generated fanfic using WotC IP names, but no actual connection to the actual settings, or whatever?

No human would bother doing that, because just setting up a product via DriveThruRPG is a little bit of a pain in the butt (there's always one or two check boxes or something I have to come back to and fix), so you do it for something that you're proud of or at least you think there's something of an audience for.

But when you can just tell a bot to do the whole thing, there's no reason to not do it, other than self-respect.

OBS has its AI generated label for products, but it has to be manually set by the creator. It's probably not realistic to have the site automatically detect AI slop, but it'd be nice if there was a way to make that happen, or to block products produced after a certain date that don't have the "human created" check box clicked.

 

[Zardnaar]

Actual data by generation doesn't match up with your memory (but it's also not quite 'by age' data)

https://www.geekwire.com/2023/dungeons-dragons-in-2023-wizards-of-the-coast-reveals-planescape-revival-and-more/

I based it off the last data wotc released and Morrus posted it.

Your links a puff piece and had Gen Z and younger at 33%. That includes people up to 28 years old. I was referring to sub 18 years old specifically.

The vast majority were 18-39. The kids and over 40s are both small minorities.

 

[bedir than]

I based it off the last data wotc released and Morrus posted it.

Your links a puff piece and had Gen Z and younger at 33%. That includes people up to 28 years old. I was referring to sub 18 years old specifically.

This is the most recent data from WotC. The date of the release was 2023 and the data from 2022. So your math is off, but also the total numbers include people younger than Gen Z and the Silent Generation, but Hasbro's been quite clear for decades about which one is meaningful in play.

Geekwire isn't doing a puff piece. It's a real news site that specializes in the tech and geek industries in the greater Puget Sound. They attended the summit WotC held because it's local.

 

[Mark Craddock]

Here is my wishlist of 2026 products for DnD:
A second Forgotten Realms Adventure Book covering other areas of the world.
A Dark Sun Players & a DM/Adventure book Ala Forgotten Realms
A new Setting introduced via Adventure/Sourcebook/Gazetter that would span levels 1 to 20 over 4-5 books.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I don't advice to show on-screen horrible actions by the monsters or villains against innocents in front of PCs' eyes but if the players can have a reasonable chance of preventing it without too much risk or sacrifice. There is a serious difference between off-screen murder and the other is watching the vampire attacking innocent villagers. The fair DMs should avoid the feeling of helplessness by the players.
Some players can enjoy when their characters face moral dilemmas but I try to avoid the abuse because some choices could be Sadducean trap where all options are wrong.
* We can't avoid the "lifeshaping" or biopunk-tech, the crafting of "living machines" because this may alter the power balance when these gadgets could appear in other settings.

* Yes, the origin of Athasian shardminds could be something like the daemons from the upcoming videogame "Exodus".

 

[FitzTheRuke]

How did Dark Sun fare in the 4E era?

No idea overall, but IIRC, it sold very well for me, and the organized play at my store had a lot of fun with it. This was back when WotC regularly sent us physical modules to run, and made their "Seasons" line up with whatever books were coming out.

I remember liking it, myself.

 

[Zaukrie]

No idea overall, but IIRC, it sold very well for me, and the organized play at my store had a lot of fun with it. This was back when WotC regularly sent us physical modules to run, and made their "Seasons" line up with whatever books were coming out.

I remember liking it, myself.

It was well designed, but I don't think we used it. But the design was good.

 

[Nikosandros]

No idea overall, but IIRC, it sold very well for me, and the organized play at my store had a lot of fun with it. This was back when WotC regularly sent us physical modules to run, and made their "Seasons" line up with whatever books were coming out.

I remember liking it, myself.

I did also like it. Back then, I was running D&D at a friend's store and I also remember the organized play being popular.

 

[Zardnaar]

This is the most recent data from WotC. The date of the release was 2023 and the data from 2022. So your math is off, but also the total numbers include people younger than Gen Z and the Silent Generation, but Hasbro's been quite clear for decades about which one is meaningful in play.

Geekwire isn't doing a puff piece. It's a real news site that specializes in the tech and geek industries in the greater Puget Sound. They attended the summit WotC held because it's local.

Except it doesn't show what im talking about. You're strawman g me the data you provided is irrelevant as it doesn't break things down further.

Apple, oranges.

 

[bedir than]

Except it doesn't show what im talking about. You're strawman g me the data you provided is irrelevant as it doesn't break things down further.

Apple, oranges.

Please provide data that supports your statement that more D&D players are over 40 than are under 18