Critical Rolerecently announced that formerDungeons and Dragonsdirectors Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins have joined the team at Darrington Press. These two legendary game developers will use their skills honed by working onDungeons and Dragonsto create novel game concepts forCritical Role, and to expand upon products it has already released.
On April 4,Dungeons and Dragonscreative director Chris Perkinsrevealed he was stepping away from Wizards of the Coast after 28 years. Mere days later, it was announced that game director Jeremy Crawford was also leaving theDungeons and Dragonsteam near the end of April. The developers are credited with many different projects over the years, but they are best known as the twin shepherds of5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons, and have overseen it through its rise in popularity over the last decade.
Now, the next step in their creative journeys has been revealed. Darrington Press, thegame publishing branch ofCritical Role, just confirmed that both Perkins and Crawford have joined the team, returning to their roles as creative director and game director, respectively. According to the announcement blog post, the two developers will be working on new novel game concepts, as well as expansions upon some of its existing products.
Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford Join Critical Role
“Storytelling has always been at the heart of everything I do, and joining Darrington Press feels a bit like coming home,” Perkins said. A guest star onCritical Rolemultiple times, the creative director admitted he was “beyond excited to help create new worlds full of adventure” with Darrington Press. Meanwhile, Crawford expressed his excitement about joining a team he described as “passionate, wildly creative, and committed to building welcoming, connected, amazing story-driven experiences,” and looks forward to adding his own expertise to the mix.
Storytelling has always been at the heart of everything I do, and joining Darrington Press feels a bit like coming home.
Beyond being professional colleagues, Perkins and Crawford are close friends. The two often appeared together as thepublic faces of5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons, and have both been involved in actual play projects together, such asAcquisitions Incorporated. Needless to say, fans of Perkins and Crawford are glad to see the dynamic duo will be able to continue working together through a different TTRPG company.
Though not explicitly stated, Perkins and Crawford will almost certainly be working onfutureDaggerheartproducts.Critical Role’s new TTRPG system was officially released on May 20, bringing the narrative-focused d12 system to the hands of awaiting players. Given their experience with developingDungeons and Dragons, it seems inevitable that they will be involved withDaggerheartas well. Fans will have to wait and see whatDaggerheart, Darrington Press, andCritical Roleannounce next now that Perkins and Crawford are on the team.
