Following a 28-year tenure, veteran Dungeons & Dragons designer Chris Perkins has announced his departure from Wizards of the Coast and his retirement, marking a significant milestone in his career.
On Friday, Perkins expressed his gratitude and excitement for the future, stating that he is leaving with a “perfect fairytale ending… I am eager to enjoy D&D purely as a fan again, knowing the game is in good hands.” This announcement comes on the heels of the TTRPG’s 50th anniversary and the successful launch of its revised rulebooks, which he noted are “doing exceptionally well.” Prior to this, he had stepped down as D&D’s product lead after the launch of the Dungeon Master’s Guide in October 2024. At that time, a representative from Wizards of the Coast told Polygon that Perkins was not leaving the company and was instead taking on a new role.
Today, I am retiring from Wizards after 28 years. As D&D’s 50th anniversary comes to a close and the revised rulebooks achieve great success, this is the perfect fairytale ending for me. I look forward to enjoying D&D purely as a fan again, knowing the game’s future is secure. See you in the Feywild! pic.twitter.com/YWV4hlEPg6
— Christopher Perkins (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) April 4, 2025
Chris Perkins began his career in the tabletop game industry in 1988 under the pen name “Christopher Zarathurstra,” with his work featured in Dungeon Magazine #11’s “Wards of Witching Ways” adventure. He officially joined Wizards of the Coast in 1997 as an editor for Dungeon and later became the editor-in-chief of Wizards periodicals. Over the years, Perkins has become a prominent figure in Dungeons & Dragons, contributing to its fourth and fifth editions, as well as the renowned Curse of Strahd module. He has also played a significant role in popularizing the Actual Play genre through D&D games at enthusiast events like PAX, and by running the Twitch show Dice, Camera, Action and making guest appearances on Critical Role.
Upon learning of Perkins’ retirement, the Dungeons & Dragons team expressed gratitude for “the decades of work he has dedicated to Wizards of the Coast, acknowledging that D&D would not be what it is today without his numerous contributions.” The team also welcomed him to join their games anytime, stating, “While we are sad to see him go, we are pleased to see the next generation of leaders step up as he enjoys his retirement.”
For more io9 news, check out the upcoming release dates for Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, as well as the future of the DC Universe on film and TV, and all the latest information on Doctor Who.
