Wizards apologizes for racist content in Spelljammer, issues errata

Wizards of the Coast has apologized for the racist content in Friday’s issue Spelljammer: Adventures in Space, the most recent release for the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game. Wizards made the apology Friday on social media and posted additional details to the company’s website.

“We failed our adventurers,” Wizards said on Twitter, “and we are truly sorry.”

An apology was made in regard to a race known as the hadozee. They are also included in Spelljammer’s Astral Adventurer’s Guide and online in the Dungeons & Dragons Beyond toolset. These primate-like creatures were criticized for being associated with in-fiction slave labor, and also because of problematic themes or images which together reinforce racism against Blacks.

“We wanted to acknowledge and own the inclusion of offensive material within our recent Spelljammer: Adventures in Space content,” Wizards wrote. “The campaign includes a people called Hadozee which first appeared in 1982. We regret to say that not all of the Hadozee-related content were thoroughly vetted prior to our latest release. As we continue to learn and grow through every situation, we recognize that to live our values, we have to do better.”

Wizards claimed that any digital version of the website has been removed all offensive content related with the hadozee. SpelljammerThese items will not appear in any reprints. Wizards also said that it is performing a “thorough internal review” of the processes that lead to its publication.

“We are eternally grateful for the ongoing dialog with the D&D community, and we look forward to introducing new, engaging and inclusive content to D&D for generations to come,” Wizards said in its statement. “D&D teaches that diversity is strength, for only a diverse group of adventurers can overcome the many challenges a D&D story presents. In that spirit, we are committed to making D&D as welcome and inclusive as possible. This part of our work will never end.”

Errata with revised content. Not only does it relate to the hadozee, but also the whole Spelljammer Product, available in a PDF for free

This is not the first time that Wizards has had to make a statement regarding insensitive material in its 5th edition D&D products, nor is it the first time it has made changes to previously published material. Wizards was one of many game designers who used the services of cultural consultants to remove this type of material. No such outside consultant is listed in the book’s credits.

Ironically, Wizards released this episode in a very progressive way. It was an adventure anthology called The Radiant Citadel: JourneysThe book is written by only writers of color. The next big release for D&D is a reboot of the Dragonlance setting, which is due out alongside a companion strategy board game starting this November.