The Hottest, Most Hopeful Rumor Under the Dying Sun: Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast Re-Registers Dark Sun Tradmark

We’ve got major news from the halls of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has reportedly filed an application to re-register the trademark for Dark Sun.

Before we start sharpening our obsidian blades and petitioning the Sorcerer-Kings for mercy, let’s get one thing absolutely clear: This is pure, unadulterated speculation. Trademark filings are legal housekeeping first and foremost. They are absolutely not a guarantee of a release date, a product announcement, or even a finished game.

But that won’t stop us from dreaming, will it?

What is Dark Sun, and Why Does This Matter?

For those unfamiliar, Dark Sun is perhaps the most unique and brutal Dungeons & Dragons setting ever conceived. Forget the gentle forests of the Forgotten Realms or the clockwork wonders of Eberron. Athas is a post-apocalyptic desert world.

• Dying Planet: The sun is red and weak, the land is scorched, and water is the most valuable currency.
• No Metal: Weapons and tools are made from bone, stone, and chitin.
• Brutal Society: Societies are ruled by immortal, tyrannical Sorcerer-Kings who wield powerful magic.
• Psionics: Unlike other settings, psionic abilities are commonplace and often necessary for survival.
• A Different Kind of D&D: This is not a setting about epic heroes saving the world; it’s about desperate survival, political intrigue, and fighting for a handful of water.

The setting hasn’t received a full official release since the Edition that shall not be named, meaning a full 5th Edition/2024 Edition  update is one of the most highly anticipated fan requests.

What Could the Trademark Filing Mean? (The Wish List)

If we allow our imaginations to take root in the dry earth of Athas, here are the most exciting possibilities suggested by this legal maneuver:

1. The Highly Anticipated 5E Setting Book

This is the consensus fan theory and, frankly, the most likely outcome if WotC intends to release content in the near future. A Dark Sun 5E sourcebook would give players and Dungeon Masters the tools they need to run adventures on Athas, including:

• Updated rules for psionics.
• New races unique to the setting, like the four-armed Thri-Kreen.
• Details on the surviving city-states and their tyrannical leaders.
• A much-needed new mechanical focus for 5E that emphasizes survival and resource management over high-powered magic.

2. A Major Video Game Project

The success of Baldur’s Gate 3 has shown that there is massive market appetite for deep, complex D&D video games. Dark Sun is an absolutely perfect fit for a gritty, survival-focused CRPG.

A game set on Athas could focus on resource scarcity, difficult moral choices, and the desperate combat of a world without easy answers. Given the psionics focus, the combat system could be radically different from other D&D adaptations. If this filing is linked to a licensing deal with a major studio, it could represent WotC’s next big gaming push.

3. A Return to the Novel Line

The original Dark Sun setting was supported by a popular series of novels. WotC could be looking to launch a new wave of fiction to coincide with the Rings of Power-era approach of tying different media together. Relaunching the lore through novels could build hype before a major tabletop release.

The Most Likely (and Least Exciting) Reality

As much as we all want to load up a new campaign under the crimson sun, we must temper our expectations. The registration of a trademark often simply means protecting the intellectual property (IP).

WotC is ensuring that no other company can lay claim to the name, and that they retain full control should they decide to greenlight a project next month, next year, or even five years from now. It’s a necessary, proactive step in managing a massive catalog of famous worlds.

The Bottom Line: While the Dark Sun trademark filing is a beacon of hope for fans of the setting’s punishing difficulty and distinct flavor, remember that the USPTO is the bureaucracy of gods, and its workings move slowly and silently. Until an official announcement drops, keep your expectations low, and your dreams of Athas high.

Which of these possibilities gets you most excited? What new rule would Dark Sun need for 5E to truly capture the survival feeling?