Joe Manganiello's D&D Icons to explore modern-day settings with military/genetics themes

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

Joe Manganiello, chief creative officer of the D&D Icons initiative, teased at Gen Con 2026 that Icons will include present-day settings and themes such as genetics and military alongside collaborations with legacy creators like R.A. Salvatore. He said Icons will also revisit older D&D worlds in new ways while keeping specific projects secret. Shifting some Icons content into modern or technological settings could expand the franchise beyond classic fantasy players and attract new audiences.

• Joe Manganiello leads the D&D Icons initiative and discussed its future plans at Gen Con 2026.
• Icons will work with famous legacy creators (for example, R.A. Salvatore’s The Legend of Drizzt) while also exploring modern-day settings.
• Manganiello highlighted present-day themes including genetics and military as potential directions for Icons.
• Wizards of the Coast has previously experimented with modern-themed D&D content, and Manganiello is withholding specific project details.