New Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook will be released early – but there’s a catch

The upcoming edition of Dungeons & Dragons is on the horizon, but the new rules will only be available to a small fraction of the fan community.

The release date for the new D&D Player’s Handbook has been announced as September 17, 2024. This updated version of D&D 5E will include significant improvements to all classes and subclasses, as well as the incorporation of optional rules such as character Feats and the stat bonuses from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything.

Despite the Player’s Handbook not being officially released for a few more weeks, select fans will have the opportunity to purchase it as early as August 2-4. This is because the first print run will be exclusively available for purchase at GenCon 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New D&D Player’s Handbook Released Early at GenCon 2024

People attending GenCon 2024 in Indianapolis will have a chance to grab the next Player’s Handbook

Regrettably, there is a limited supply of Player’s Handbooks currently available. According to Wizards of the Coast, only 3,000 copies will be made available for purchase at the event, leaving the majority of D&D enthusiasts to wait until September to obtain their copies.

Individuals who are able to obtain a copy at GenCon will receive books featuring a golden Dungeons & Dragons 50th anniversary logo prominently displayed on the cover. Additionally, the book will include a special GenCon 2024 coverplate that will only be available at the event.

It is likely that some of those limited copies will become available on online marketplaces, allowing those who are not attending GenCon to purchase a new Player’s Handbook. However, the prices for these copies will probably be much higher than if one were to pre-order the launch edition.

Despite Wizards of the Coast revealing details about the new rules for more than a year, there is still much that remains unknown about the upcoming changes. Those attending GenCon will have the opportunity to be among the first in the world to experience the latest version of D&D, but the rest of the fanbase will not be far behind, even if they have to wait a few weeks in envy.