Author: Amy Goodenough

This week: Paradox takes back the reins on the World of Darkness; controversy around Matthew Mercer’s character on Haunted West; and an ARG and LARP designer looks at how the QAnon delusion uses the same principles as a game.

Let’s be real: we’ve all been focused on politics this week, which has little crossover with RPGs (though we’re hoping for some). Things are pretty quiet on the RPG front: some Stranger Things, some RPG software, and massive support for a gloriously queer RPG Kickstarter closing this week.

In this week’s biggest news, livestreamers-turned-media-company, Critical Role, launch their own game publishing studio. Hasbro releases its Q3 earnings report, showing massive growth in Dungeons & Dragons and dropping hints at something new on the way. Along with that: a federally-backed Australian D&D show; alien languages; Mörk Borg; and the next in the long (oh dear god, so long) list of Vampire: The Masquerade adaptations.

After last week’s Dragonlance debacle, this week is a little quieter: GAMA restructures its membership, Wizards announces a new program of online mini-conventions, and a few new products: a new Roll20 app; a Terminator RPG; and a fan-made reimagining of an Oriental Adventures setting.

This week: the authors of D&D fantasy series, Dragonlance sue Wizards of the Coast for breach of contract over a commissioned new trilogy; Chaosium commemorates two years since the death of Greg Stafford with #WeAreAllUs — and a new edition of the legendary Pendragon RPG; and we look at the looming 5e boom (hopefully no bust).

In our bumper two-week update: a luxury RPG event goes digital; the pandemic’s effect on game stores; and a collaboration between Renegade and Hasbro brings a Power Rangers RPG — and more. Also: transgender superheroes, ghost hunters, and a fan-made finale to the D&D cartoon.

This week: how the HeroQuest trademark changed hands (again); Critical Role forms the non-profit Critical Role Foundation; Onyx Path releases the Contagion Chronicle; and a limited docuseries about videogames.