Gen Con 2026, the longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America, has concluded its four-day run in Indianapolis, drawing over 70,000 attendees and hundreds of publishers. The event served as a platform for numerous reveals and announcements across the board game, collectible card game, and tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) spectrum.
The convention highlighted a significant development from Brotherwise Games, which is leveraging the mechanics of its popular Cosmere Roleplaying Game. Building on the system designed for Brandon Sanderson's interconnected fantasy universe, Brotherwise announced a new initiative to empower other creators. The company plans to release free online rules and templates for its Plotweaver RPG System, allowing designers to create their own games. An open alpha for a new fantasy setting called Erstwild is set to begin on August 5, with further settings planned for release this fall and an open beta next year.
This move by Brotherwise Games mirrors the trajectory of companies like Monte Cook Games, which successfully adapted its Cypher System Rulebook into a foundation for multiple successful games after the release of its science fantasy TTRPG Numenera.
Attendees also saw previews of anticipated titles, including tie-ins for major franchises such as Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings. The convention floor featured a wide array of products, with many popular games selling out quickly upon release. For those unable to attend or who missed out on initial purchases, preorder links were made available for many of the showcased titles.
Gen Con's Exhibit Hall served as the central hub for vendors displaying their latest offerings. While many games were available for demos throughout the weekend, the limited quantities meant that early arrivals often secured the first chance to purchase titles that will not see wider distribution for months. The convention continues to be a crucial event for both industry professionals and dedicated fans, setting the stage for many of the year's tabletop releases.