I’m wondering if there has been any update on the release of SRD 5.2 under the Creative Commons license. In previous announcements, Wizards of the Coast stated that it would be released after the updated Monster Manual came out. The new Monster Manual has been out for three weeks now, but I haven’t seen any news about the SRD update.
Has there been any official word on when we can expect SRD 5.2 to become available?
Kickstarter Pine Box Entertainment: Greetings Backers! We're back from GAMA and have some updates moving forward towards production.
SRD/OGL: We met with WoTC regarding their initial announcement on having the updated SRD directly following the release of the 2024 Monster Manual (see previous updates). We were told at this time there is now no ETA for this release and were advised to continue our publication using the existing legalese.
I’m surprised there isn’t more public outcry over this. Back in March 2024, Wizards of the Coast promised that the SRD 5.2 would be released weeks after the new Monster Manual. The updated Monster Manual was released on February 18th, 2025, and now we’re being told there is no ETA for the SRD release?
This commitment was made in the wake of the OGL controversy, as part of WotC’s attempt to rebuild trust with the community. It was supposed to ensure that third-party creators could access the updated rules under Creative Commons, just as they had done with SRD 5.1. Instead, we’re met with silence, vague responses, and delays.
Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency? If they’ve gone back on their word, they need to explain why. This isn’t just a minor delay—it’s a broken promise to the entire TTRPG community.
We need to push for answers. If you care about open gaming and the future of third-party content, now is the time to speak up.
Just about a month later isn’t exactly miles away from a soft estimate of “weeks”. If there’s no word at the end of April then it’ll at least be noteworthy, but even then is hardly going to be the point to gear up to storm the Bastille, and less than 4 weeks from their “within weeks of” point certainly isn’t.
I understand that some people see this as a minor delay, but I don’t think we should be so quick to dismiss it. This isn’t just about a soft estimate of “weeks.” It’s about transparency and follow-through on a promise that was made in the wake of a major controversy—one that nearly upended the entire third-party ecosystem.
After the OGL debacle, WotC explicitly committed to releasing SRD 5.2 under Creative Commons as a way to reassure creators and the community that the game’s foundation would remain open. They set the expectation that the release would follow the updated Monster Manual within weeks. Now, over three weeks later, we’re told there is no ETA—which is a very different statement than “it’s just taking a little longer.”
If this is just a matter of incompetence or internal delays, then fine—just say so. But a complete lack of communication and a sudden shift from “coming soon” to “no ETA” raises legitimate concerns. If there’s no issue, why the silence? If the plan has changed, why hasn’t WotC addressed it?
The third-party ecosystem depends on clear licensing, and a lot of publishers have been waiting on this release. Dismissing this as “not a big deal” or “only a small delay” ignores the fact that WotC built expectations and now isn’t meeting them. That’s worth questioning.
“Major controversy” is very generous, and 3PPs have continued to be released over the past year. The biggest hold up was probably just people who waited on the new core books so they could stay synced with the changes. And, as was discussed at length last year, there’s little to nothing about the system itself that WotC can lay claim to, so I’m not sure how much they can actually do to threaten 3PPs.
Calling the OGL situation anything less than a major controversy is downplaying the reality of what happened. WotC attempted to deauthorize the OGL 1.0a, which would have had catastrophic consequences for third-party publishers (3PPs) who had built their businesses around it. The backlash was massive—so much so that WotC had to completely reverse course and put SRD 5.1 into Creative Commons, something they never intended to do before. If that isn’t a major controversy, I don’t know what is.
And yes, 3PPs have continued to release content, but that doesn’t mean the delay of SRD 5.2 is insignificant. Many publishers are waiting for the updated SRD to ensure their material aligns with the 2024 rule updates without legal uncertainty. Sure, a lot of mechanics are system-agnostic, but the point of the SRD is to provide a clear, open framework that third parties can rely on without worrying about potential legal entanglements.
The real issue here is trust and follow-through. WotC set clear expectations—SRD 5.2 was supposed to arrive weeks after the new Monster Manual. Now, instead of a minor delay, we’re told there is no ETA. That’s a shift from “it’s coming soon” to “we don’t know when”—or worse, “we don’t know if.”
If this is just a temporary delay, why not communicate that? If they’re reconsidering the release altogether, why not address it openly? WotC has a long history of mishandling communication with the community, and every time we give them the benefit of the doubt, they take advantage of it.
People have a right to question why a promised release is suddenly in limbo. It’s not just about when it arrives—it’s about whether we can trust WotC to keep their word at all.
Because SRD 5.1 doesn’t include the updated 2024 rules, which means third-party creators who want to align their work with the newest version of the game are stuck waiting.
The 2024 core books introduced major mechanical changes—including things like Weapon Mastery, subclasses starting at level 3, new class features, spell revisions, and fundamental adjustments to how the game plays. None of that exists in SRD 5.1. If you want to publish third-party content that uses these updates, you either:
Wait for SRD 5.2 (which was supposed to come “weeks after” the new Monster Manual, but now has no ETA),
Guess at the legal gray area of referencing mechanics that aren’t in the SRD, or
Work under a different license entirely, which isn't what was promised.
For my own project, I want to use Weapon Mastery and ensure all subclasses start at level 3, just like the 2024 books do. I can’t do that with SRD 5.1 because those rules aren’t in it. This is exactly why third-party publishers need the SRD 5.2 now, not at some indefinite future date.
If WotC hadn’t set the expectation that SRD 5.2 would come weeks after the Monster Manual, this might not be as frustrating. But they did set that expectation, and now they’ve backtracked with no explanation. That’s the issue.
Because SRD 5.1 doesn’t include the updated 2024 rules, which means third-party creators who want to align their work with the newest version of the game are stuck waiting.
The 2024 core books introduced major mechanical changes—including things like Weapon Mastery, subclasses starting at level 3, new class features, spell revisions, and fundamental adjustments to how the game plays. None of that exists in SRD 5.1. If you want to publish third-party content that uses these updates, you either:
Wait for SRD 5.2 (which was supposed to come “weeks after” the new Monster Manual, but now has no ETA),
Guess at the legal gray area of referencing mechanics that aren’t in the SRD, or
Work under a different license entirely, which isn't what was promised.
For my own project, I want to use Weapon Mastery and ensure all subclasses start at level 3, just like the 2024 books do. I can’t do that with SRD 5.1 because those rules aren’t in it. This is exactly why third-party publishers need the SRD 5.2 now, not at some indefinite future date.
If WotC hadn’t set the expectation that SRD 5.2 would come weeks after the Monster Manual, this might not be as frustrating. But they did set that expectation, and now they’ve backtracked with no explanation. That’s the issue.
guess you will just have to wait then...
personally to me "weeks after" could be as long as a 3month time period without issues
I wish they would communicate something on this, I may be working on a book soon and would like the updated SRD to use. Even just them saying it won't be out until the second half of the year would be disappointing but helpful.
It is not a big deal for me personally, because I am not a creator whos livelihood depends on selling products. For people who do depend on that it is a big deal IMO. It is just wrong to not say anything and worse to not have a plan when they made a promise.
I appreciate that some people don’t see this as a big deal, but for those of us who are actively creating content, this delay matters.
The issue isn’t just “how many weeks count as weeks” or whether “weeks” could stretch to three months—the issue is that WotC originally set clear expectations and now refuses to communicate at all.
People are trying to plan their projects. Some, like me, are working on content that relies on the updated 2024 mechanics—things like Weapon Mastery, subclasses starting at level 3, class redesigns, spell updates, etc. Without SRD 5.2, we’re left in limbo. Even those who aren’t actively publishing can understand why it’s frustrating when a promised release is suddenly given no ETA and WotC refuses to clarify.
At the very least, WotC should communicate their timeline. If SRD 5.2 is coming in June or later, they should just say that. If there’s an issue holding it up, explain what it is. Right now, they’re giving us nothing, and that’s what’s unacceptable.
If WotC wants to rebuild trust after the OGL fiasco, this isn’t how they do it.
What they announced last May was "We’re proud to report that SRD 5.2 will be released within weeks of the release of the 2025 Monster Manual!"
That didn't set clear expectations for a timeline. Asserting that there even is a delay at this point is inaccurate and premature. There was no ETA given in that announcement, just a vague "within weeks" range, and they're still "within weeks."
There is incentive with the other books slated for release by wotc, everyday they wait to release the new SRD is a day those books won't have to compete with 3PP offers.
Given that those books are not yet out, whereas the core books are out, mostly what it does is give the impression of D&D 2024 not being properly supported, which is bad for WotC.
This is not to say that the situation isn't bad for independent creators, it absolutely is, but sometimes incompetence is just incompetence.
I was just here hoping that weeks meant weeks, but if there is no ETA that's really not great. No ETA is a lot worse than 'we're still within the intended timeframe' or 'it will be delayed'. No ETA means they might not actively be working on it at all.
Three weeks is really not all that long, considering all we can expect goes into the creation of a document like this. Multiple departments, including creative, legal, management, and marketing all likely touch the document - and all of them are going to be a bit paranoid given the issues with someone trying to steal and abuse a different Wizards’ IP (Star Frontiers) and issues with OGL. Three weeks is not all that long for any corporate decision that touches so many hands - it certainly is not all that long for a corporate decision when folks are justifiably paranoid about getting it wrong.
We also have reason to believe Wizards is not the only one touching this choice - we know Wizards works with large party publishers on decisions like this, because we know they were working with them on the OGL. That is, after all, how the draft leaked in the first place - it was not an internal memo, but a document circulated to third parties as part of a dialogue. I think it is reasonable to believe they are having conversations with folks like the major players they partner with on Beyond, and want to give them the chance to comment before they provide more information to the general audience.
That is pretty standard practice as well - and also adds time. They not only have to send things out to the third parties, those third parties then are going to want to discuss it with their creative and legal teams, provide feedback, perhaps get a response from Wizards, etc.
Now, do I wish Wizards would provide at least an update? Sure. For once, I would love to see Wizards get ahead of a story, rather than allow anti-D&D conspiracists set the tone of a conversation. But, alas, my faith in Wizards’ PR team to do anything in a timely manner is fairly low.
But am I concerned at this point? Of course not. Three weeks is really all that much, given the scope of what is being discussed and the fact it is likely going to govern the next decade of third party content.
The incompetence argument is getting tired, even if it is "true", at this point it is safe to say they are choosing to be incompetent and if it is a choice is it truly incompetence or a smoke screen for more diabolical intentions?
Having dealt with permitting on construction projects... three weeks is nothing. Yes, there's a point where it becomes reasonable to suspect malice, but three weeks is nowhere close to that (three months... maybe. Three years, definitely).
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Hi everyone,
I’m wondering if there has been any update on the release of SRD 5.2 under the Creative Commons license. In previous announcements, Wizards of the Coast stated that it would be released after the updated Monster Manual came out. The new Monster Manual has been out for three weeks now, but I haven’t seen any news about the SRD update.
Has there been any official word on when we can expect SRD 5.2 to become available?
Thanks!
Kickstarter
Pine Box Entertainment:
Greetings Backers! We're back from GAMA and have some updates moving forward towards production.
SRD/OGL: We met with WoTC regarding their initial announcement on having the updated SRD directly following the release of the 2024 Monster Manual (see previous updates). We were told at this time there is now no ETA for this release and were advised to continue our publication using the existing legalese.
I’m surprised there isn’t more public outcry over this. Back in March 2024, Wizards of the Coast promised that the SRD 5.2 would be released weeks after the new Monster Manual. The updated Monster Manual was released on February 18th, 2025, and now we’re being told there is no ETA for the SRD release?
This commitment was made in the wake of the OGL controversy, as part of WotC’s attempt to rebuild trust with the community. It was supposed to ensure that third-party creators could access the updated rules under Creative Commons, just as they had done with SRD 5.1. Instead, we’re met with silence, vague responses, and delays.
Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency? If they’ve gone back on their word, they need to explain why. This isn’t just a minor delay—it’s a broken promise to the entire TTRPG community.
We need to push for answers. If you care about open gaming and the future of third-party content, now is the time to speak up.
Just about a month later isn’t exactly miles away from a soft estimate of “weeks”. If there’s no word at the end of April then it’ll at least be noteworthy, but even then is hardly going to be the point to gear up to storm the Bastille, and less than 4 weeks from their “within weeks of” point certainly isn’t.
My assumption is incompetence, not a scheme.
The main downside of releasing a new SRD is "people can play without buying our books"... and guess what, the Free Rules already allow that.
The main upside of releasing a new SRD is "third party publishers can use it, which in turn propels sales of our core books".
I understand that some people see this as a minor delay, but I don’t think we should be so quick to dismiss it. This isn’t just about a soft estimate of “weeks.” It’s about transparency and follow-through on a promise that was made in the wake of a major controversy—one that nearly upended the entire third-party ecosystem.
After the OGL debacle, WotC explicitly committed to releasing SRD 5.2 under Creative Commons as a way to reassure creators and the community that the game’s foundation would remain open. They set the expectation that the release would follow the updated Monster Manual within weeks. Now, over three weeks later, we’re told there is no ETA—which is a very different statement than “it’s just taking a little longer.”
If this is just a matter of incompetence or internal delays, then fine—just say so. But a complete lack of communication and a sudden shift from “coming soon” to “no ETA” raises legitimate concerns. If there’s no issue, why the silence? If the plan has changed, why hasn’t WotC addressed it?
The third-party ecosystem depends on clear licensing, and a lot of publishers have been waiting on this release. Dismissing this as “not a big deal” or “only a small delay” ignores the fact that WotC built expectations and now isn’t meeting them. That’s worth questioning.
“Major controversy” is very generous, and 3PPs have continued to be released over the past year. The biggest hold up was probably just people who waited on the new core books so they could stay synced with the changes. And, as was discussed at length last year, there’s little to nothing about the system itself that WotC can lay claim to, so I’m not sure how much they can actually do to threaten 3PPs.
Calling the OGL situation anything less than a major controversy is downplaying the reality of what happened. WotC attempted to deauthorize the OGL 1.0a, which would have had catastrophic consequences for third-party publishers (3PPs) who had built their businesses around it. The backlash was massive—so much so that WotC had to completely reverse course and put SRD 5.1 into Creative Commons, something they never intended to do before. If that isn’t a major controversy, I don’t know what is.
And yes, 3PPs have continued to release content, but that doesn’t mean the delay of SRD 5.2 is insignificant. Many publishers are waiting for the updated SRD to ensure their material aligns with the 2024 rule updates without legal uncertainty. Sure, a lot of mechanics are system-agnostic, but the point of the SRD is to provide a clear, open framework that third parties can rely on without worrying about potential legal entanglements.
The real issue here is trust and follow-through. WotC set clear expectations—SRD 5.2 was supposed to arrive weeks after the new Monster Manual. Now, instead of a minor delay, we’re told there is no ETA. That’s a shift from “it’s coming soon” to “we don’t know when”—or worse, “we don’t know if.”
If this is just a temporary delay, why not communicate that? If they’re reconsidering the release altogether, why not address it openly? WotC has a long history of mishandling communication with the community, and every time we give them the benefit of the doubt, they take advantage of it.
People have a right to question why a promised release is suddenly in limbo. It’s not just about when it arrives—it’s about whether we can trust WotC to keep their word at all.
Out of curiosity, why not just release under 5.1?? Wouldn't the srd 5.2 be built upon it anyway
Because SRD 5.1 doesn’t include the updated 2024 rules, which means third-party creators who want to align their work with the newest version of the game are stuck waiting.
The 2024 core books introduced major mechanical changes—including things like Weapon Mastery, subclasses starting at level 3, new class features, spell revisions, and fundamental adjustments to how the game plays. None of that exists in SRD 5.1. If you want to publish third-party content that uses these updates, you either:
For my own project, I want to use Weapon Mastery and ensure all subclasses start at level 3, just like the 2024 books do. I can’t do that with SRD 5.1 because those rules aren’t in it. This is exactly why third-party publishers need the SRD 5.2 now, not at some indefinite future date.
If WotC hadn’t set the expectation that SRD 5.2 would come weeks after the Monster Manual, this might not be as frustrating. But they did set that expectation, and now they’ve backtracked with no explanation. That’s the issue.
guess you will just have to wait then...
personally to me "weeks after" could be as long as a 3month time period without issues
I wish they would communicate something on this, I may be working on a book soon and would like the updated SRD to use.
Even just them saying it won't be out until the second half of the year would be disappointing but helpful.
weeks means jsut that. weeks, it doesnt become months until at least 8 weeks have passed.
It is not a big deal for me personally, because I am not a creator whos livelihood depends on selling products. For people who do depend on that it is a big deal IMO. It is just wrong to not say anything and worse to not have a plan when they made a promise.
I appreciate that some people don’t see this as a big deal, but for those of us who are actively creating content, this delay matters.
The issue isn’t just “how many weeks count as weeks” or whether “weeks” could stretch to three months—the issue is that WotC originally set clear expectations and now refuses to communicate at all.
People are trying to plan their projects. Some, like me, are working on content that relies on the updated 2024 mechanics—things like Weapon Mastery, subclasses starting at level 3, class redesigns, spell updates, etc. Without SRD 5.2, we’re left in limbo. Even those who aren’t actively publishing can understand why it’s frustrating when a promised release is suddenly given no ETA and WotC refuses to clarify.
At the very least, WotC should communicate their timeline. If SRD 5.2 is coming in June or later, they should just say that. If there’s an issue holding it up, explain what it is. Right now, they’re giving us nothing, and that’s what’s unacceptable.
If WotC wants to rebuild trust after the OGL fiasco, this isn’t how they do it.
What they announced last May was "We’re proud to report that SRD 5.2 will be released within weeks of the release of the 2025 Monster Manual!"
That didn't set clear expectations for a timeline. Asserting that there even is a delay at this point is inaccurate and premature. There was no ETA given in that announcement, just a vague "within weeks" range, and they're still "within weeks."
Given that those books are not yet out, whereas the core books are out, mostly what it does is give the impression of D&D 2024 not being properly supported, which is bad for WotC.
This is not to say that the situation isn't bad for independent creators, it absolutely is, but sometimes incompetence is just incompetence.
I was just here hoping that weeks meant weeks, but if there is no ETA that's really not great. No ETA is a lot worse than 'we're still within the intended timeframe' or 'it will be delayed'. No ETA means they might not actively be working on it at all.
Three weeks is really not all that long, considering all we can expect goes into the creation of a document like this. Multiple departments, including creative, legal, management, and marketing all likely touch the document - and all of them are going to be a bit paranoid given the issues with someone trying to steal and abuse a different Wizards’ IP (Star Frontiers) and issues with OGL. Three weeks is not all that long for any corporate decision that touches so many hands - it certainly is not all that long for a corporate decision when folks are justifiably paranoid about getting it wrong.
We also have reason to believe Wizards is not the only one touching this choice - we know Wizards works with large party publishers on decisions like this, because we know they were working with them on the OGL. That is, after all, how the draft leaked in the first place - it was not an internal memo, but a document circulated to third parties as part of a dialogue. I think it is reasonable to believe they are having conversations with folks like the major players they partner with on Beyond, and want to give them the chance to comment before they provide more information to the general audience.
That is pretty standard practice as well - and also adds time. They not only have to send things out to the third parties, those third parties then are going to want to discuss it with their creative and legal teams, provide feedback, perhaps get a response from Wizards, etc.
Now, do I wish Wizards would provide at least an update? Sure. For once, I would love to see Wizards get ahead of a story, rather than allow anti-D&D conspiracists set the tone of a conversation. But, alas, my faith in Wizards’ PR team to do anything in a timely manner is fairly low.
But am I concerned at this point? Of course not. Three weeks is really all that much, given the scope of what is being discussed and the fact it is likely going to govern the next decade of third party content.
Having dealt with permitting on construction projects... three weeks is nothing. Yes, there's a point where it becomes reasonable to suspect malice, but three weeks is nowhere close to that (three months... maybe. Three years, definitely).