Last year, we heard some thrilling news from Wizards of the Coast and Resolution Games: they’re bringing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the much-loved tabletop role-playing game, into the virtual reality realm.
Up until recently, the specifics of this new venture have been pretty hush-hush. But just this Wednesday, the cat was let out of the bag as the companies revealed the game’s official title and shared more details, edging us closer to a VR D&D experience.
So, what’s this new game called? Battlemarked. It’s built on the Demeo system that Resolution Games developed. If you’re familiar with Demeo, you know it’s all about providing a virtual tabletop setting, with gameplay that mirrors the turn-based combat of D&D, complete with an action point system that uses playing cards.
An interesting fact about Battlemarked is that it marks the first collaboration between Resolution Games and Wizards of the Coast, so it’s set to bring players a more authentic D&D feel compared to Demeo. That said, in Battlemarked, you won’t need a Dungeon Master (DM). The aim here is to encourage players to focus on strategic thinking and decision-making, rather than the traditional roleplaying aspect.
Upon its release, Battlemarked will feature two immersive story-driven campaigns that up to four players can dive into together.
Players will be able to enjoy the game across a range of platforms, including VR, PC, and consoles. While they haven’t disclosed exactly which devices will support it, we do know that Demeo can be played on Meta Quest, Pico, SteamVR, PlayStation VR2, PlayStation 5, PC, Mac, and even iPad. So, it’s likely Battlemarked will have a similarly broad launch.
To accompany the big reveal, the team dropped a brand new trailer. The visuals capture that signature art style from Wizards of the Coast that fans adore and preview some exciting character classes and races like a fighter Dragonborn, a rogue Tiefling, and others that will surely catch your interest.
Despite these revelations, there are still some mysteries surrounding the game—its release date and pricing are still under wraps. The details about the campaigns remain a secret as well. But Resolution Games has hinted at plans for additional campaigns that will venture into different familiar D&D settings down the road. Unfortunately, they weren’t taking any more questions.
Resolution Games, for those who might not know, is a Stockholm-based gaming studio with quite a résumé. Their lineup includes well-known titles such as Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs, Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale, and Spatial Ops. To date, the company has secured about $38.6 million in funding, according to PitchBook.
This latest announcement is a testament to D&D’s surging popularity within mainstream culture. The franchise has grown into a multimedia powerhouse, inspiring hit web series like Critical Role and Dimension 20, video games such as Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3, and even making a splash in movie theaters with films like “Honor Among Thieves.”
