D&D 2025 Release Dates Announced for Asia Pacific Region
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Over the past decade Dungeons & Dragons has grown in popularity around the world. Unfortunately, logistical and printing issues have meant that many regions often don’t get new books until several months after they’ve been released in North America and Europe.
That’s definitely the case with Asia Pacific (APAC), a region that includes Australia, New Zealand and large part of Southeast Asia. These countries typically receive Wizards of the Coast products much later than the rest of the world due primarily to their location from where the physical books are printed.
In fact, recently Wizards of the Coast announced the new release dates for upcoming DnD books for APAC for the remainder of 2025. This includes the new Monster Manual, as well as other titles coming up over the course of the year. Below, we map out all the details.
What new D&D books have release dates for APAC?
Below are all of the books which have been previously released in late 2024 or which have upcoming release dates in 2025 (we’ll update this list as we know more).
2024 Monster Manual
APAC Release Dates: Apr. 4th, 2025 (Australia & New Zealand), Apr. 25th, 2025 (South East Asia)
North American Release Date: Feb. 18th, 2025
What Is It: The new 2024 Monster Manual contains over 500 new unique creatures, including over 80 completely brand new options. Monsters have also been recategorized, updated with new abilities and utilize a new stat block structure. Notably, the book has also been completely reorganized alphabetically to make it easier for new DMs to find creatures (although the option to search by Challenge Rating, terrain and creature type still exists).
2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide
APAC Release Date: Dec. 7th, 2024 (Australia), Dec. 24th, 2024 (New Zealand), Dec. 31st, 2024 (South East Asia)
North American Release Date: Nov. 12th, 2024
What Is It: Designed to help both new and experienced DMs get up and running more quickly the new Dungeon Maser’s Guide features an enhanced content structure, new features (such as the Bastion system) and even a complete campaign world based on the legendary Greyhawk setting. It also includes detailed tips and tricks for novice DMs looking to cut their teeth on their very first adventure.
2024 Player’s Handbook
APAC Release Date: Oct. 11th, 2024 (Australia), Oct. 18th, 2024 (New Zealand), Oct. 25th, 2024 (Southeast Asia)
North American Release Date: September 17th, 2024
What is It: A major retooling of the existing DnD fifth edition rules, the new Player’s Handbook includes the 12 standard classes, along with 48 subclasses and 144 character background options. While it remains completely backwards compatible with existing 5e materials, there are a number of new rules, including tweaks to classes, spells, species and the introduction of a new “weapons mastery” system that’s designed to make combat more cinematic.
What upcoming D&D books not have APAC release dates?
Several major D&D releases are scheduled for 2025, but specific APAC release dates have yet to be confirmed. These include:
Dragon Delves Anthology
APAC Release Date: TBA
North American Release Date: July 8th, 2025
What is It: This new collection of 10 short adventures will be the first book to use the new DnD 2024 rules. As the name suggests, each adventure is focused around one particular dragon. The adventures will be suitable for a range of character tier levels and can be played together or run as individual one-shots.
Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
APAC Release Date: TBA
North American Release Date: August 19th, 2025
A companion book to Eberron: Rising from the Last War, the book will include new backgrounds, new Bastion options and expanded rules for airships. The book will also feature some significant changes to both lore and mechanics that are specific to Eberron, including removing species requirements for Dragonmarked Houses and updating the Koravar elf-elf species. The book will also feature the new Artificer class and include three adventures that can be reworked to create a complete campaign. Notably it will also feature a shorter page count and a new price point.
DnD Starter Set “Heroes of the Borderland”
APAC Release Date: TBA
North American Release Date: September 16th, 2025
What Is It: Like past DnD starter sets, this will be designed for new Dungeon Masters and players to learn the basics of the game. The box set will include dice, character sheets and adventure based on the classic Keep on the Borderlands adventure module from 1979. The new adventure is tentatively entitled “Heroes of the Borderlands” and will be divided into three separate booklets: one focused on the titularKeep, one exploring the Wilderness and one centred around the dreaded Caves of Chaos.
Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide
APAC Release Date: TBA
North American Release Date: November 11th, 2025
What Is It: In this new player-focused book, DnD returns to the Forgotten Realms, offering a ton of new rules options, including new subclasses, feats, backgrounds and spells. In addition it includes more lore and setting details and information on noteworthy factions like the Harpers, Zhentarim and Red Wizards of Thay.
Forgotten Realms Adventure Guide
APAC Release Date: TBA
North American Release Date: November 11th, 2025
What Is It: Designed solely for Dungeon Masters, this new sourcebook goes beyond the familiar and oft-explored Sword Coast region to focus on five key settings in Faerûn: Baldur’s Gate, Calimshan, the Dalelands, the Moonshae Isles and Icewind Dale. The book will also include adventure hooks, new monsters and new magic items.
Final Thoughts
The global popularity of Dungeons & Dragons is undoutedbly good for the overall health and longevity of the game. Getting new releases to fans around the world, however, has proven to be a challenge for Wizards of the Coast, who has saw APAC delays for the 2024 Player’s Handbook, followed by further delays with the new DMG. Of course, WotC isn’t entirely to blame, with logistical issues still remaining following the pandemic. It’s also worth noting that digital versions of these books will be available on D&D Beyond to all users, regardless of where they live in the world.
That being said, here’s hoping fans in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia will get their hands on physical copies of these new books sooner rather than later. We’ll be keeping a close eye on these updates in the days ahead and will update this page as we know more.
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Cameron Nichols is a Senior Editor who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been playing D&D since the early 90s, when he was introduced by his older brother and cut his teeth on AD&D 2nd Edition. Since then he’s played virtually every RPG he could get his nerdy little mitts on (including a weird Goth phase in the early 2000s when he rocked Vampire: The Masquerade pretty hard). His favorite D&D campaign setting is the Forgotten Realms and his favorite character to play was a Half-Orc Barbarian named Grug (who was unfortunately devoured by a gelatinous cube).
