Dungeons & Dragons may return to third-party creators to help reshape 5e
Wizards of the Coast may be opening Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition development back up to third-party creators, according to a recent LinkedIn job posting discovered by the D&D community. This would mark a significant shift in company policy.
During 5e’s early years, Wizards collaborated with external studios on major products. Kobold Press designed Hoard of the Dragon Queen, the first campaign supplement. Sasquatch Game Studio created Princes of the Apocalypse, while Green Ronin Publishing contributed Out of the Abyss and the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. This outsourced model reflected a broader openness to third-party talent in shaping the edition.
However, starting in 2016, Wizards shifted strategy and brought all D&D product design entirely in-house. The decision centralized creative control but also limited external perspectives on the game’s continued evolution. The recent job posting suggests the company may now be reconsidering this approach, potentially reopening collaboration with talented studios outside the organization.