Looks like Dungeons & Dragons is going all in on Ravenloft. It makes sense given the legacy of Curse of Strahd, Horrors Within being the best received 5.5e book so far, and WotC’s proclivity to glom onto its latest successful thing (see Baldur’s Gate 3). This week’s big TTRPG headlines are largely Ravenloft related. So if you like vampires, good for you!
We’ve got news of a Ravenloft tv series, a Ravenloft board game, a Castle Ravenloft premium DM screen, and a shift in power at Wizards of the Coast. Let’s break it down.
Netflix Developing Ravenloft Show
Deadline reports that Strahd is about to go Hollywood; Netflix is working on a live-action series set in Ravenloft. This series seems to be replacing the Forgotten Realms live-action show that was announced last year. John August and Alfonso Cuarón are on board along with Hasbro Entertainment. The description from Deadline paints Ravenloft as a prestige fantasy story centered around Strahd’s origin.
WizKids Reveals Massive, Detailed Castle Ravenloft DM Screen
WizKids seems to be taking a cue from DnD actual play shows and is making a DM screen with big production values. The maker of minis revealed D&D Replicas of the Realms Castle Ravenloft DM Screen due for release next year. The screen part depicts the castle walls of Strahd’s home, complete with towers for dice rolling and compartments for mini storage. There’s also castle banner initiative flags and areas for note clips. It retails for a whopping $449.99 and is available for pre-order now.
Renegade Resurrects Castle Ravenloft Board Game
The 2010 Dungeons & Dragons: Castle Ravenloft Board Game is coming back with a vengeance. And by vengeance we of course mean a premium edition rerelease. As reported by ICv2, Renegade Game Studios announced two new editions of the board game due out February 2027. The $100 Standard Edition updates the visuals to increase immersion, while the $200 Premium Edition comes with prepainted miniatures.
Hasbro CEO Assumes Direct Control Over DnD For The Immediate Future
CEO of Hasbro Chris Cocks now runs WoTC directly. This follows the exit of former WoTC president John Hight. As the parent company, Hasbro will oversee the larger operations of WotC while the search is conducted for Hight’s successor. According to official sources, this means that DnD and Magic: The Gathering leaderships report directly to Chris Cocks until a new president is found. Cocks has garnered criticism for his embrace of AI and likening D&D Beyond to a live service video game, but Hasbro reaffirmed that it’s still searching for a new WotC leader.
That brings this week’s headline recap to an end! It’s a great time to be running a Ravenloft campaign, that’s for sure. Or playing in one, such as with a professional Dungeon Master! Until next week, may your dice be kind.
Sergio Solórzano is the best Dungeon Master in the USA (according to an official D&D competition, anyway). He loves minis and terrain but also goes all-in on improv!
