Two of the most recognizable names in tabletop role-playing games are setting out on a new adventure.

Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford, the longtime creative minds behind Dungeons & Dragons at Wizards of the Coast, have joined Critical Role’s publishing arm, Darrington Press.

The announcement was made via the official Darrington Press website, and further details were shared in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Critical Role arm Darrington Press adds to TTRPG legends

The move represents a major step for Critical Role, which has steadily expanded from it’s humble beginnings as a D&D stream on Geek & Sundry, into a multifaceted entertainment company spanning animation, comics, video games, and now a stronger push into original tabletop game development.

Perkins and Crawford aren’t just familiar faces to D&D fans, they’ve been central to the game’s evolution for decades.

Perkins served as the game’s creative director, guiding its storytelling direction, while Crawford was its lead rules designer and game director.

Together, they helped define modern D&D, overseeing the transition into the fifth edition and its massive mainstream resurgence along with the recently released 2024 version.

According to Darrington Press’ official post, the two will play key roles in shaping the studio’s original games and storytelling experiences. The post describes them as “storytelling legends” whose impact on the gaming community has been “nothing short of extraordinary.”

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, both designers reflected on their departure from Wizards and what drew them to Critical Role.

“I was committed to staying with Wizards until after D&D’s 50th anniversary, which gave me lots of time to work on succession planning and exit strategies,” Perkins said. “What brought me out of retirement was the chance to work with Jeremy and the brilliant folks at Critical Role on things that have a lasting, positive impact on the world.”

Crawford added, “Chris and I talked about his retirement plan for years. When we sent the new D&D rule books to the printer last year, I felt it was time to explore a new chapter for myself. I love the game and its team, but 18 years is a long time. I was ready for a new adventure. The chapter that we’ve now opened feels like coming home — resuming work with Chris and returning to Southern California.”

Travis Willingham, Critical Role’s co-founder and CEO, emphasized the significance of the hire. “They are two of the biggest names that have influenced TTRPGs and the games that we played,” he told the Times. “When we first heard they might be stepping away from Wizards, we reached out. We’re over here making cool, nerdy things—if they were interested, we wanted to talk.”

Willingham also noted that the duo’s experience brings enormous value to Darrington Press as it continues to grow. “You’re bringing in nearly two decades of creative leadership from the company that defined the genre,” he said. “That kind of pedigree levels up everyone around here.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Perkins and Crawford were also drawn to the mission and community spirit of Critical Role. “We’ve known and worked with members of Critical Role for the past 10 years,” Crawford said. “When they asked us to join, we happily said yes. It meant continuing our creative partnership in a company whose mission and people we believe in.”

Looking ahead, the duo is passionate about making tabletop games more inclusive and joyful. In a joint email response to the Times, they shared: “We believe there’s strength in diversity. Diverse creators and games make the industry more inviting to everyone. And it’s important to keep that spark of joy alive—because that joy is why so many of us started playing in the first place.”

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