Here comes another week of StartPlaying TTRPG news! 2025 must really be underway now, because there’s a lot to get into. Critical Role announced an interactive show for wildfire relief, the Dungeons & Dragons 2025 roster got two surprise books, the ENNIE awards went back-and-forth on AI, and Evil Genius Games asked a Redditor to remove a post illuminating its shady history. 

Look no further than this, our guide to affordable TTRPG gifts that can ship quickly or offer an instant digital version. Be they an online DnD player, RPG beginner, forever DM, or up-and-coming actual play star, we’ve got ideas. 

Dropout makes Dimension 20 tickets more consumer friendly, Kobold Press takes shots at Wizards of the Coast to advertise their own book, and Star Trek Adventures beams up a new starter set. 

Wizards of the Coast laid off a beloved community figure, D&D Beyond users flocked to the 2024 rules in big numbers, Amazon orders more Legend of Vox Machina, and Life is Strange dropped a free TTRPG.

PETA makes DnD content, BG3 cast members play using 2024 rules, and 2024 DMG previews.

WotC showed off its VTT at GenCon, content creators got punished for showing early previews of the 2024 Player’s Handbook, Brandon Sanderson scored a huge win, and Free League announced a new Alien update.

While tabletop RPG creators came together to support an ambitious new streaming platform, social media users got heated over historical accounts of sexism in DnD. Meanwhile, a Japanese RPG classic is next to get an official TTRPG. 

This week begins with sad news about a fellow news site. Several Dicebreaker staff members announced that they lost their jobs this week after the site’s parent company was bought by IGN. Other, happier stories from this week cover The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3, DnD anniversary collectibles, and Dimension 20’s Kids on Bikes rework.