Editing Dungeons & Dragons (section)

=== Later criticism ===
{{See also|Dungeons & Dragons controversies#Cultural representations and racism|Open Game License#Reception}}
''D&D'' has been compared unfavorably to other role-playing games of its time. Writing for ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' in 2008, Erik Sofge makes unfavorable comparisons between the violent incentives of ''D&D'' and the more versatile role-playing experience of ''GURPS''. He claims that "for decades, gamers have argued that since D&D came first, its lame, morally repulsive experience system can be forgiven. But the damage is still being done: New generations of players are introduced to RPGs as little more than a collective fantasy of massacre."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sofge|first=Erik|date=March 10, 2008|title=With Dungeons & Dragons, Gary Gygax created a monster.|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2008/03/with-dungeons-dragons-gary-gygax-created-a-monster.html|access-date=June 11, 2020|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611183640/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2008/03/with-dungeons-dragons-gary-gygax-created-a-monster.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This criticism generated backlash from ''D&D'' fans. Writing for ''[[Ars Technica]]'', Ben Kuchera responded that Sofge had experienced a "small-minded [[Dungeon Master]] who only wanted to kill things", and that better game experiences are possible.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kuchera|first=Ben|date=March 11, 2008|title=Slate editorial bashes D&D, but we know the truth|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/03/slate-editorial-bashes-dungeons-and-dragons-but-we-know-the-truth/|access-date=June 11, 2020|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611183641/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/03/slate-editorial-bashes-dungeons-and-dragons-but-we-know-the-truth/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' reported that "the D&D team announced that it would be making changes to portions of its 5th edition product line that fans have called out for being insensitive".<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Hall|first1=Charlie|last2=Polo|first2=Susana|date=June 25, 2020|title=The game and comics industries are grappling with widespread allegations of harassment and abuse|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/25/21302341/video-game-tabletop-game-comics-allegations-harassment-abuse-racism-metoo|access-date=June 26, 2020|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175230/https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/25/21302341/video-game-tabletop-game-comics-allegations-harassment-abuse-racism-metoo|url-status=live}}</ref> Sebastian Modak, for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', reported that the tabletop community has widely approved these changes. Modak wrote that "in its statement addressing mistakes around portrayals of different peoples in the D&D universe, Wizards of the Coast highlighted its recent efforts in bringing in more diverse voices to craft the new ''D&D'' sourcebooks coming out in 2021. [...] These conversations—around depictions of race and alleged treatment of employees of marginalized backgrounds and identities—have encouraged players to seek out other tabletop roleplaying experiences".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Modak|first=Sebastian|date=July 24, 2020|title=Amid a pandemic and a racial reckoning, 'D&D' finds itself at an inflection point|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/07/24/amid-pandemic-racial-reckoning-dd-finds-itself-an-inflection-point/|access-date=July 25, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730213415/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/07/24/amid-pandemic-racial-reckoning-dd-finds-itself-an-inflection-point/|url-status=live}}</ref> Matthew Gault, for ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'', reported positively on the roundtable discussions Wizards of the Coast has hosted with fans and community leaders on diversity and inclusion. However, Gault also highlighted that other efforts, such as revisions to old material and the release of new material, have been less great and at times minimal. Gault wrote, "WotC appears to be trying to change things, but it keeps stumbling, and it's often the fans who pick up the pieces. [...] WotC is trying to make changes, but it often feels like lip service. [...] The loudest voices criticizing D&D right now are doing it out of love. They don't want to see it destroyed, they want it to change with the times".<ref name="Gault-2020">{{Cite news|last=Gault|first=Matthew|date=December 31, 2020|title=Dungeons, Dragons, and Diversity|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/dungeons-dragons-diversity/|access-date=December 31, 2020|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825220720/https://www.wired.com/story/dungeons-dragons-diversity/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in 2022, academic Christopher Ferguson stated that the game "was not associated with greater [[ethnocentrism]] (one facet of racism) attitudes" after he conducted a [[Survey (human research)|survey study]] of 308 adults (38.2% non-White, and 17% ''Dungeons and Dragons'' players). Ferguson concluded that Wizards of the Coast may be responding to a moral panic similar to that surrounding Satanism in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ferguson|first=Christopher J.|date=2022-01-04|title=Are orcs racist? Dungeons and Dragons, ethnocentrism, anxiety, and the depiction of "evil" monsters|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02551-4|journal=Current Psychology|volume=42|issue=15|pages=12400–12408|language=en|doi=10.1007/s12144-021-02551-4|s2cid=245653994|issn=1936-4733|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904031942/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-02551-4|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2024 update to 5e, character "race" (such as dwarf, elf, or human) was changed to "species."<ref name=":1" />

Between November and December 2022, there was reported speculation that Wizards was planning to discontinue the Open Game License for ''Dungeons & Dragons'' based on unconfirmed leaks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Eric |date=2022-11-14 |title=Rumor: One D&D Might Be Killing Third-Party Homebrew Content |url=https://gamerant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-one-dnd-no-ogl-rumor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113073331/https://gamerant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-one-dnd-no-ogl-rumor/ |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=[[Game Rant]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chancey |first=Tyler |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Wizards Clarifies One D&D Third Party Support |url=https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/wizards-clarifies-one-dd-third-party-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113072017/https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/wizards-clarifies-one-dd-third-party-support |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=TechRaptor |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ComicBook-2022">{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2022 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Clarifies Support for Third-Party Material as New Edition Draws Near |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-open-game-license-srd-one-dnd/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113022707/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-open-game-license-srd-one-dnd/ |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Gizmodo-2022">{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2022 |title=The Dungeons & Dragons Open Gaming License Isn't Going Anywhere |url=https://gizmodo.com/dnd-open-gaming-license-dungeons-dragons-wizards-coast-1849919823 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221193823/https://gizmodo.com/dnd-open-gaming-license-dungeons-dragons-wizards-coast-1849919823 |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}}</ref> Following an initial response to the speculation by Wizards in November 2022,<ref name="ComicBook-2022" /> the company released limited details on the update to the OGL in December 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2022 |title=OGLs, SRDs, & One D&D |url=http://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1410-ogls-srds-one-d-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221183154/http://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1410-ogls-srds-one-d-d |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=D&D Beyond |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2022 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Announces Changes to OGL, Some Third-Party Creators Must Report Revenue and Potentially Pay Royalties |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-srd-royalties/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221184130/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-srd-royalties/ |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Gizmodo-2022" /> Linda Codega, writing for ''[[Io9]]'', reported on the details from a leaked full copy of the OGL 1.1 on January 5, 2023.<ref name="Codega-2023"/> Codega highlighted that "every single licensed publisher will be affected by the new agreement. [...] The main takeaway from the leaked OGL 1.1 draft document is that WotC is keeping power close at hand".<ref name="Codega-2023" /> ''[[ICv2]]'' commented that the leaked OGL had several controversial parts.<ref name="ICv2-2023">{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2023 |title='Dungeons & Dragons' OGL 1.1 Furor |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/53040/dungeons-dragons-ogl-1-1-furor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111092439/https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/53040/dungeons-dragons-ogl-1-1-furor |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |access-date=January 11, 2023 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref> Following this leak, numerous news and industry-focused outlets reported on negative reactions from both fans and professional content creators.{{efn|Such as:''[[Financial Times]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons & fear & loathing |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b8f27121-ac91-45c8-9f4d-7a1d86115c19 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113112621/https://www.ft.com/content/b8f27121-ac91-45c8-9f4d-7a1d86115c19 |archive-date=January 13, 2023}}</ref> ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Dungeons and Dragons Is Jeopardizing Its Greatest Strength: Its Ubiquity |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dungeons-and-dragons-is-jeopardizing-its-greatest-strength-its-ubiquity/ |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Vice.com |language=en |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112140313/https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ad9kn/dungeons-and-dragons-is-jeopardizing-its-greatest-strength-its-ubiquity |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2023 |title='People are leaving the game': Dungeons & Dragons fans revolt against new restrictions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/jan/12/dungeons-and-dragons-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113061242/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/jan/12/dungeons-and-dragons-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl |url-status=live }}</ref> [[CNBC]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Sarah |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons open game license update delayed following fan backlash |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/13/hasbro-delays-new-dungeons-dragons-licensing-rules.html |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117114351/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/13/hasbro-delays-new-dungeons-dragons-licensing-rules.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  ''[[NME]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nattrass |first=J. J. |date=2023-01-09 |title=D&D content creators outraged over licensing changes, demand the game remain "open" |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/gaming-news/dd-content-creators-outraged-over-licensing-changes-demand-the-game-remain-open-3377607 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=NME |language=en |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112040950/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/gaming-news/dd-content-creators-outraged-over-licensing-changes-demand-the-game-remain-open-3377607 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Northup |first=Travis |date=2023-01-06 |title=Wizards of the Coast OGL Change Draws Ire From Creators and Fans Alike: 'It's Not Right' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/wizards-of-the-coasts-new-dungeons-dragons-license-ogl-controversy |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112125127/https://www.ign.com/articles/wizards-of-the-coasts-new-dungeons-dragons-license-ogl-controversy |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[ICv2]]'',<ref name="ICv2-2023" /> ''[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plante |first=Corey |title=D&D's community is up in arms over a controversial change |url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/dnd-dungeons-dragons-ogl-11-homebrew-changes-opendnd |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Inverse |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113022546/https://www.inverse.com/gaming/dnd-dungeons-dragons-ogl-11-homebrew-changes-opendnd |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[ComicBook.com]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Community Holds Breath as Wizards of the Coast Prepares New OGL |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-leak-community-backlash-dnd/ |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110025509/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-leak-community-backlash-dnd/ |url-status=live }}</ref> }} ''[[TheStreet]]'' highlighted that "the company's main competitors" quickly pivoted away from the OGL in the time it took Wizards to settle on a response.<ref name="Button-2023">{{Cite web |last=Button |first=Danni |date=January 14, 2023 |title=Hasbro Faces Criticism Over Dungeons & Dragons Rules Change |url=https://www.thestreet.com/media/hasbro-just-tanked-one-of-its-biggest-revenue-drivers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116155712/https://www.thestreet.com/media/hasbro-just-tanked-one-of-its-biggest-revenue-drivers |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=[[TheStreet]] |language=en-us}}</ref> ''[[Starburst (magazine)|Starburst]]'' commented that "historically when the owners of ''Dungeons and Dragons'' attempt to restrict what people can do with the game, it leads to a boom in other tabletop roleplaying games. This is happening right now".<ref name="Fortune-2023">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-10 |title=DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TV Show Announced Amid Controversy |url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/dungeons-and-dragons-tv-show-announced-amid-controversy |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=STARBURST Magazine |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111185059/https://www.starburstmagazine.com/dungeons-and-dragons-tv-show-announced-amid-controversy |url-status=live }}</ref> ''TheStreet'' also commented that Wizards united its "entire player base" against it; both ''TheStreet''<ref name="Button-2023" /> and ''Io9'' highlighted the movement to boycott [[D&D Beyond]] and mass subscription cancellations with ''Io9'' stating that the "immediate financial consequences" forced a response by Wizards.<ref name="Gizmodo-2023">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-14 |title=Cancelled D&D Beyond Subscriptions Forced Hasbro's Hand |url=https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-wizards-hasbro-ogl-open-game-license-1849981136 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117171732/https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-wizards-hasbro-ogl-open-game-license-1849981136 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}}</ref> ''Io9'' reported that Wizards' internal messaging on the response to the leak was this was a fan overreaction.<ref name="Gizmodo-2023" /> In the ensuing weeks, Wizards walked back changes to the OGL and solicited public feedback{{efn|OGL1.2, with an open feedback period, was announced on January 13, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2023 |title=An Update on the Open Game License (OGL) |url=http://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=[[D&D Beyond]] |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |language=en-us |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113162049/https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Releases Statement on New OGL, Retracts Royalties and License Back Language |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-statement-retracts-royalties-license-back-language-outrage/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113164003/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-statement-retracts-royalties-license-back-language-outrage/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Wizards of the Coast Breaks Their Silence on the Dungeons & Dragons OGL |url=https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-ogl-license-wizards-of-the-coast-wotc-1849985196 |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113162920/https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-ogl-license-wizards-of-the-coast-wotc-1849985196 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} before pivoting away from the OGL to release the [[c:File:SRD5.1-CCBY4.0License.pdf|System Reference Document 5.1]] (SRD 5.1) under an irrevocable creative commons license ([[CC BY 4.0]]).{{efn|System Reference Document 5.1 was announced and became effective immediately on January 27, 2023. Additionally, Wizards announced it would no longer pursue deauthorizing the OGL1.0a.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=January 27, 2023 |title=D&D won't change the OGL, handing fans and third-party publishers a massive victory |url=https://www.polygon.com/23574677/dungeons-dragons-dnd-ogl-canceled-wizards-fans-win |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |language=en-US |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127201901/https://www.polygon.com/23574677/dungeons-dragons-dnd-ogl-canceled-wizards-fans-win |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Will Not De-Authorize Current OGL, Releases Full SRD Under Creative Commons License |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-not-deauthorized/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127212444/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-not-deauthorized/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Scraps Plans to Update Its Open Game License |url=https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-will-no-longer-deauthorize-its-open-1850041837 |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127202427/https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-will-no-longer-deauthorize-its-open-1850041837 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2023 |title=System Reference Document 5.1 |url=https://www.dndbeyond.com/attachments/39j2li89/SRD5.1-CCBY4.0License.pdf |website=[[D&D Beyond]] |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |access-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127212445/https://www.dndbeyond.com/attachments/39j2li89/SRD5.1-CCBY4.0License.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>}} Edwin Evans-Thirlwell of ''The Washington Post'' wrote that "pushback from fans, who criticized WotC's response as far from an apology and a dismissal of their legitimate concerns, led WotC to backpedal further" and that the company "appears to have committed an irreversible act of self-sabotage in trying to replace [the OGL] — squandering the prestige accumulated over 20 years in a matter of weeks".<ref name="Evans-Thirlwell-2023">{{Cite news |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=January 19, 2023 |title=The D&D Open Game License controversy, explained |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2023/01/19/dungeons-and-dragons-open-game-license-wizards-of-the-coast-explained/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119203631/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2023/01/19/dungeons-and-dragons-open-game-license-wizards-of-the-coast-explained/ |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |access-date=January 20, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Both ''Io9'' and ''ComicBook.com'' called the major concessions – releasing the SRD 5.1 under the creative commons and no longer deauthorizing the OGL1.0a – announced by Wizards a "huge victory" for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' community.<ref name="Hoffer-2022b">{{Cite web |last1=Hoffer |first1=Christian |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Will Not De-Authorize Current OGL, Releases Full SRD Under Creative Commons License |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-not-deauthorized/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127212444/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-not-deauthorized/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Codega-2023g" />