D&D team withdraws over proposed changes to digital tools after fan outcry
The platform in question is D&D Beyond, a web-based resource and app for players and Dungeon Masters that features fully functional character sheets and automatic dice rolling. The changelog indicated that some content from the 2014 era, including magic items and spells, actually had to be manually rebuilt by players in order to be compatible with the 2024 era toolset. Now, Wizards has indicated that this is no longer the case.
“We heard your feedback loud and clear, and thank you for speaking out,” the statement, which was attributed to The D&D Studio, said. “Our excitement for the 2024 Core Rulebooks led us to view these planned updates as welcome improvements and free upgrades to existing content. We misjudged the impact of this change and we agree that you should be free to choose your own way to play.”
According to the update, players who only have access to the Players Manual (2014) “will retain their character options, spells, and magic items in their character sheets.” That means older items will have newer versions in the Players Manual (2024) will no longer need to be recreated as homebrew content to be functional on D&D Beyond. That should save everyone – especially the already overburdened DMs – a lot of headaches.
Additionally, players who have purchased a digital license for both the 2014 and 2024 materials will be able to “choose from either source when creating new characters.”
“Players will no longer need to rely on Homebrew to use their 2014 player options,” D&D Studio continued, “including spells and magic items, as recommended in previous changelogs.”
The course correction brings to mind another recent high-profile incident, the OGL debacle, when Wizards reversed proposed changes to the iconic game’s licensing structure after loud fan outcry. The episode backfired and led to a surge in sales of other game systems.
Polygon has reached out to Wizards for additional comment and clarification. You can find the full post, with additional information, at the D&D Beyond website. It has also been added to the rolling changelog.