During the D&D Direct video presentation on YouTube today, the D&D Studio shared their excitement for all the fantasy storytelling planned for the rest of the year and early 2025. Dungeons & Dragons fans who pre-ordered the digital 2024 Player’s Handbook and have a Master Tier subscription on D&D Beyond can access the content on September 3rd before it releases everywhere on September 17th.
Fans can also head to their friendly local game store to grab a standard or alternate cover copy of the Player’s Handbook. Many stores are creating events to celebrate the release so fans can join the fun by playing D&D with all the local gamers.
“D&D isn’t just a game – it’s this amazing community that’s all about bringing fantasy and wonder to life, whether that’s in living rooms, backyards, or wherever folks want to play,” said Jess Lanzillo, Head of D&D Product and Franchise. “We’re super excited to be celebrating D&D’s big anniversary with the release of the new Player’s Handbook! Together with the community, we’ve built this new Player’s Handbook with a focus on what makes D&D so cool — bringing people together through the shared experience of adventure.”
Whether they are a veteran or just starting out on their adventure, D&D fans can make a new character using the new Cleric, Fighter, Rogue and Wizard classes with a D&D Beyond account on September 3rd.
In addition to announcing early access to the Player’s Handbook on D&D Beyond, the team was also super excited to share what they’re working on for 2025. Here’s a sneak peek:
- Dragon Anthology (working title) scheduled for Summer 20
- Everything you need to know about dragons but were afraid to ask, plus ten short adventures that all feature dragons in dungeons!
- Updated Starter Set (working title) scheduled for Fall 2025
- Featuring unique components designed to introduce new players to D&D through an adventure inspired by “Keep on the Borderlands”
- The Forgotten Realms Player Guide (working title) scheduled for Late 2025
- New subclasses, feats, backgrounds, factions, and spells from D&D’s most popular setting
- The Forgotten Realms Adventure Guide (working title) scheduled for Late 2025
- A toolbox overflowing with lore and locations to inspire DMs to create endless Forgotten Realms campaigns for players to explore
Wizards is also continuing to develop an upcoming immersive 3D sandbox that empowers fans to build their own D&D experience using Unreal Engine 5. The digital miniatures in Project Sigil can be customized to meet each fan’s vision and the magic items their characters collect along their adventures, and crafty DMs can create infinite worlds and levels with easy-to-use tools and assets included in the builder.
“Sigil is designed to add options to the already rich experience the books and D&D Beyond offer, supporting and extending your favorite ways to play rather than replacing what you love,” said Chris Cao, head of Project Sigil at Wizards. “Whether it’s lush 3D environments, titanic boss fights, or amazing customizations for your minis, Sigil is there to make it easy to connect online with friends, introduce new players to your game, and create your own worlds.”
The Project Sigil closed beta is available at no cost at DnDBeyond.com/project-sigil. All you need is a free or subscription tier D&D Beyond account.
Images via Wizards of the Coast
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