Critical Role Expands Franchise with Daggerheart RPG and Roadmap

In late December 2025, Critical Role’s executive team laid out a clear business strategy that shifted the organization from an acclaimed actual-play show toward a sustained media franchise. The centerpiece of that strategy is Darrington Press’s Daggerheart, a new tabletop RPG that sold out quickly upon release and will be supported by a planned three-year slate of expansions and product lines.

Executives Ed Lopez (COO) and Ben Van Der Fluit (SVP, Business & Content Development) framed the effort as a balance between the creative control of the cast and a professional executive infrastructure running operations, partnerships, and long-term planning. That balance underpins Darrington Press’s push: the company has brought on established Dungeons & Dragons designers Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford to work on Darrington projects, signaling a move to pair experienced tabletop design talent with the story and brand strengths of Critical Role.

The rapid sellout of Daggerheart created immediate demand and practical consequences for players, retailers, and creators. Expect reprints, expanded distribution windows, and announced preorders as Darrington executes its three-year roadmap. For tabletop stores and event organizers, that means planning ahead for waves of product releases tied to expansion books, modules, and likely merchandise. For players, the roadmap promises sustained support for campaigns built around Daggerheart mechanics and settings.

Critical Role is also exploring product categories beyond games, including food and beverage and footwear, while remaining cautious about outside investment. That caution suggests the company intends to protect creative direction and brand integrity even as it expands revenue streams. For community members and independent creators, the company’s approach means potential for new licensed opportunities, cross-promotions with animation and publishing arms, and a marketplace shaped by the company’s curated partnerships rather than broad external financing.

What matters now is timing and availability. Track Darrington Press announcements for reprint schedules and expansion release dates, and plan retail and event calendars accordingly. The hiring of Perkins and Crawford raises expectations for robust, mechanically sound releases, and the three-year roadmap signals that Daggerheart will be more than a one-off product. Critical Role’s trajectory offers the player community a new system with committed support and a model for how a successful actual-play brand can evolve into a sustained tabletop ecosystem.