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.

 

[Imagine That TTRPG]

I'd love to see a TV series based on the Prism Pentad.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I heard the same, exept it was the Forgotten Realms instead of Dragonlance. I didn't buy it either.

I think it makes more sense for Eberron, since they are burning through their magical energy at an alarming rate.

 

[Parmandur]

I'd love to see a TV series based on the Prism Pentad.

That could be extremely cool.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

The Prism Pentad in TV? Possible but I would bet for the animation with PG13, or at least two versions, PG13 and PG16. I guess it would be after Hasbro had enough experience producing adaptation of its franchises.

The idea of mixing two official settings could sound crazy but if you don't feel inspiration for a new campaign then we can start with those "crazy" ideas and work about that. You are imagining that mash-up like something style Almagam universe when Marvel and DC were fused but my idea is more a reimagination of previous franchises style Disney's Descendants. Maybe you would feel more confortable if you change the names of the characters but replacing the archetypes.

There is other reason to create a mash-up setting and it is because if the other players know the lore too much then it is more difficult to surprise these but starting from zero creating new names and realms is also a lot of work, and some players don't want to learn all the new details.

Maybe it could be published in 1st April for fun and inspiration for your own homemade setting.

Or the reason of this mash-up if after a confrotantion between chronomancers and a group or rogue time-dragons a world was almost totally destroyed and then they tried to rebuild it but accidentally this was "fixed" with "patchs" from other postapocaliptic worlds, the alternate timelines where Raistlin and the king-priest became the one deity and the Athaspace with the "bad end".

I like to know more things about the lore and the metaplot but if I play the continuity is radically different, adding my own changes, for example "godless" paladins are allowed, or crusader(martial adepts) at least like a paladin subclass (and warblade like fighter subclass).

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The word is definitely not used in the "old fashioned + offensive" definition your entire concern rests on it using. Even skimming the 2e book it seems to be using the violent flavors of definition

I don't have a concern. I don't mind it being called Savage. I think there's a big difference between describing land and describing people that way. I was speaking of why WotC might choose to go a different way. They are rightly much more concerned about that sort of thing than I am.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

At least in the dead-land there were two or tree undead lords as possible future antagonist leaders.
I don't mind the official canon but in my game there are worship to the ancestors and the totem spirits. It would be interesting if a character dies and she is offered to be reincarnated but it had to be into certain terminated specie, for example gnome.

Within the Gray there are zones with positive energy. These could be a perfect place to hide a secret base.

If there is a future shaman class in the future, the update of the 5e DS should be designed to allow this.

The canon said the fiends could travel toward Athas at will if they wanted but they only do it if they are summoned by a spellcaster.

Other idea is within the Silt Sea this a planar gate toward an infernal domain. This was a region from an infernal plane that was discovered, explored and conquered by an alien megacorporation with a very advanced technology. When that region became "cleared stage" it lost the "sintonitation" with the infernal plane and it was shatered becoming its own demiplane.

* Maybe there are more sorcerer-kings within the "land-within-the-wind", sent by Borys to avoid eladrins and others could escape to then prepare a counter-offensive.

* What if the true origin of the spinewyrms is they were alien dragons who reached a spark of divinity? But because they rebelled against a deity their punishment would be to be sent toward Athas where they would lose their previously earned divine rank. Then the could become the leaders of wild tribes and later they could become living vortices allowing their loyal shamans to cast divine magic.

 

[mamba]

I can't seem to find it, but I think I remember reading an online theory somewhere that was quite compelling that stated that Dark Sun was Krynn set in the very distant future. It was interesting...I didn't buy it, but it was at least very interesting.

probably the Krynn where Raistlin had defeated all the gods and was left with a wasteland in return.

Doesn’t quite line up either, but no other version comes anywhere as close

 

[Remathilis]

I don't have a concern. I don't mind it being called Savage. I think there's a big difference between describing land and describing people that way. I was speaking of why WotC might choose to go a different way. They are rightly much more concerned about that sort of thing than I am.

A place can be savage. A people should not.

I don't get the hulabaloo. We have a Savage Attacker feat in the PHB. People can use context to determine the difference between "the Savage North" and "orcs are savages."

 

[Stormonu]

Been looking through my (electronic) copies of Dragon, trying to find an article related to the above. I remember it's one of them, talking about Athas possibly being the far future version of one of TSR's campaigns (I was thinking Greyhawk, but perhaps FR). It was among a couple articles of advancing fantasy worlds into modern or even sci-fi levels of advancement.

Unfortunately, I haven't located it. Still looking.

 

[Maxperson]

Heck, folks at WotC just breathing is considered kinda sketchy in some quarters.

I mean, when you own D&D and have access to creation of intelligent undead, why would you hire ones that were breathing?