Wizards of the Coast has announced Dark Sun’s return to Dungeons & Dragons in 2027, reviving the harsh desert world of Athas after a long absence. The announcement matters because it brings back one of D&D’s most distinctive and controversial settings, while signalling a deliberately more adult, violent tone than the game’s usual releases.

The revival will comprise two books: the gameplay expansion Dark Sun: Blood and Power and the setting expansion Edge of Oblivion. Promotional material is age-gated and emphasises graphic violence, making Dark Sun D&D’s first mature-rated setting; the original setting debuted in 1991 and was last officially updated for fourth edition in 2010.