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.

 

[Youshang]

I'd love to see a modern take on Dark Sun, tbh, which means it shouldn't be an exact rehash of the old source material. I love the subgenre, as it's close to my actual favourite, which would be conan-esque sword&sorcery.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'd love to see a modern take on Dark Sun, tbh, which means it shouldn't be an exact rehash of the old source material. I love the subgenre, as it's close to my actual favourite, which would be conan-esque sword&sorcery.

All that would require, really, is picking a new spot on Arthas, where we don't know all of the local history, although the big picture stuff (the world is hosed because of destructive magic, the gods are remote/dead, planar travel is impossible, etc.) would all be the same.

That way, the 2E stuff isn't "ruined" by a new take, but it would give WotC an opportunity to remix all of the elements in a way that makes sense to them today.

 

[tetrasodium]

All that would require, really, is picking a new spot on Arthas, where we don't know all of the local history, although the big picture stuff (the world is hosed because of destructive magic, the gods are remote/dead, planar travel is impossible, etc.) would all be the same.

That way, the 2E stuff isn't "ruined" by a new take, but it would give WotC an opportunity to remix all of the elements in a way that makes sense to them today.

While not wrong, I think it would take a second step of putting effort in that tries to ensure it remains athas as a sphere of existence rather than being a copy paste lore dump from some other setting or something.

The themes tropes and lore of athas as a sphere isn't some "you have to have been there back then" kind of thing that needs reimagining into a "modern" form like drums on fire mountain or something.

 

[Yaarel]

All that would require, really, is picking a new spot on Arthas, where we don't know all of the local history, although the big picture stuff (the world is hosed because of destructive magic, the gods are remote/dead, planar travel is impossible, etc.) would all be the same.

That way, the 2E stuff isn't "ruined" by a new take, but it would give WotC an opportunity to remix all of the elements in a way that makes sense to them today.

I prefer a more hopeful Dark Sun. I would this by having one or more remote locations elsewhere on the planet. They would be subterranean communities (perhaps magitech) with large aquifers nonvisible from the surface, thus the Table Lands were unaware of them. The remote communities are relatively benign, with civic responsibility and trying to rebuild the planetary environment. But the resources are scarce, selfdefense is necessary against outside desperate populations despite feeling compassion for their plights.

 

[Zardnaar]

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

I didnt claim that so knock off the strawmaning. Next time you do it youre getting reported strawmaning or sea lioning take your pick.

I said under 18s and over 40s were a minority and the data was last week here via one of the moderators. I cant remember which one posted it or what thread.

 

[Staffan]

Good Darksun adventures. Hmmn theyre around........0.

TSR was pushing those metaplot heavy railroaded ones back then.

Dragon's Crown is my favorite 2e-era adventure. Yes, it is fairly rail-roaded, but it is epic as heck, and brings the PCs all across the Tablelands from Tyr to Urik to the Sea of Silt and then back again and across the Ringing Mountains, across the Forest Ridge, and finally to the Dragon's Crown. And in addition to the main plot, there are lots of side quests to spice all that travelling up.

Weren't most of the adventures happening AROUND all the metaplot going on... like the premise was, "Well, THIS happened and now you guys are off doing your own thing in the chaos that event caused."?

Freedom happened in parallel with the The Verdant Passage, and the adventure's finale happens at the same time as the book's. Road to Urik is sort of a prequel to The Crimson Legion – Urik's been threatening Tyr now that they don't have a Sorcerer-king anymore, and the PCs (likely through connections they made in Freedom) help in recruiting troops and get to lead them in early skirmishes before the proper fighting begins. Arcane Shadows starts out in Urik, and it's suggested that the PCs are there as a consequence of the war between Tyr and Urik, but that's a very tenuous link and the adventure doesn't otherwise have any ties to the novels other than sharing the same cover as the back of the Amber Enchantress. Asticlian Gambit and Dragon's Crown doesn't have anything at all to do with The Obsidian Oracle or The Cerulean Storm other than sharing back covers.

 

[TheSword]

I will say that I am cautiously optimistic to see where they end up going with this. Dark Sun is a setting with a lot of really great potential that is often lost in the sword-and-sandal grimy aesthetics of it all. Oddly enough, the post-Gold Box Dark Sun PC game Shattered Sun probably presented the ideal Dark Sun campaign.

Did you like Wake of the Ravager?

 

[Kurotowa]

I said under 18s and over 40s were a minority and the data was last week here via one of the moderators. I cant remember which one posted it or what thread.

I'm not sure we have very up to date official demographics. The most current official source I could find was from 2020. That listed the age brackets as 15-19 at 12%, 20-29 at 42%, 30-39 at 32%, and 40+ at 13%.

So yes, there's a very obvious bump in the bell curve, and teenagers are roughly equal to the entire 40+ contingent.

 

[pukunui]

All that would require, really, is picking a new spot on Arthas, where we don't know all of the local history, although the big picture stuff (the world is hosed because of destructive magic, the gods are remote/dead, planar travel is impossible, etc.) would all be the same.

That way, the 2E stuff isn't "ruined" by a new take, but it would give WotC an opportunity to remix all of the elements in a way that makes sense to them today.

Given how tiny the Tyr region is, I could be up for a new Dark Sun that takes place on, say, the opposite side of the planet.

 

[Incenjucar]

I amticipate that the controversial elements will more or less remain but the new authors and editors will change a few random things that nobody expected them to touch and fail to capture the tone and unique elements.