Another Dumb Move by WotC

Wizards of the Coast, the company behind Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), appears to be shifting its focus towards a more digital future for the popular tabletop role-playing game. Recently, they stopped offering "physical-only" copies of their books for sale on their website, instead promoting hybrid bundles that include both physical and digital versions. This move has raised concerns within the community and is accompanied by a price increase, especially for those who don't pre-order the books.

While D&D books can still be found at local game stores, Target, Amazon, and other retailers, Wizards of the Coast's emphasis on digital products suggests a strategic push towards their virtual tabletop platform, D&D Beyond. The digital + physical bundles are priced similarly to newly released video games, indicating a deliberate effort to establish D&D Beyond as the preferred platform for playing D&D. This shift aligns with WotC's broader goal of capitalizing on the growing digital market and expanding the game's reach.

As Wizards continues to invest in video games and explores new opportunities in the digital realm, it seems that digital dice, miniatures, and maps may become increasingly prevalent in the future of D&D. I cannot say that I am surprised, as I have personally felt that the focus with Wizards has always been about making money, vs the quality of product produced.