Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast have announced a “Universes Beyond” crossover initiative for Dungeons & Dragons at Gen Con 2026, beginning with World of Warcraft and followed by Star Wars. The announcement matters because it could bring major new audiences and commercial opportunities to D&D, while raising concerns among longstanding players that licensed franchises may overshadow its original worlds and characters.

The World of Warcraft expansion will include Azeroth and an adventure centred on the Lich King, while the Star Wars release is planned for next year. The initiative adopts the branding used by Magic: The Gathering, whose crossover-driven revenue reached a record $1.72 billion in 2025; however, the article notes criticism that Magic’s own settings have since received less attention. Wizards also announced D&D Icons, reviving settings including Ravenloft, Greyhawk and Dark Sun, and D&D has previously published Rick and Morty and Stranger Things crossovers.