2024 D&D Pre-Order Compendium Shows the Old 2014 Rules

Maybe this is by design, but I tried searching for discussion of this, and I can't seem to find anything that clarifies whether the 2024 D&D pre-order compendium should be working correctly and whether it should contain the new rules and correct content for pre-order customers. For me, it clearly doesn't. I bought the full 2024 D&D bundle on Roll20, and I created a new game using the 2024 beta character sheet, and I added the 2024 D&D compendium, which you get with your pre-order. But it looks like the 2024 D&D beta compendium shows the old, outdated 2024 rules. For example, the compendium only shows the old 20214 PHB races, and it does not have the new "Species" category or the aasimar and goliath, which are now core PHB species in the new book. In fact, the term "species" is missing from the compendium entirely. All the categories and pages that I've checked point to old rules, old links to the 2014 PHB, or have references to the old free 5E Basic Rules. Others point to nothing but blank pages when you click on them, and some are weird categories that weren't in the old compendium and probably aren't supposed to be there for a new version either. I have checked all my game settings and content sharing settings multiple times, and it shows that I'm using the beta 2024 D&D character sheet, I've enabled the 2024 D&D pre-order compendium, and that I'm using the 5E compendium, which is the default for the 2024 character sheet. There is no other option for any other 5E D&D compendium. Also, in case it matters, I set up the game using the Jumpgate beta. Am I missing something? Is something working incorrectly in my game specifically? Is there a wider problem with the 2024 D&D beta compendium? Or are the new rules not really available yet?

"The ultimate D&D 2024 Core Rulebook bundle provides you access to the D&D Player’s Handbook ( Sept 17, 2024 )," -Adam

Okay, then someone has mistakenly configured the system to show that I already own the 2024 PHB in my marketplace items, and the 2024 PHB is already available as an option to add as game content in the compendium. I doubt that's what's supposed to be happening, so that should probably be fixed until the release date. As it is, I think it's pretty poor that people who pre-ordered on D&D Beyond now have access to the PHB, but pre-order customers on Roll20 don't. I don't use D&D Beyond, so that option is a non-starter for me. The PHB is already available in some physical stores and is now available on D&D Beyond, so I decided to check Roll20. Everything worked as if the product was already released and live, but obviously that isn't the case once you get into the compendium to access your content.

Hi Greg! Wizards of the Coast does not have the same constraints upon its release dates that a partner such as Roll20 does. I wasn't even aware of an early access program on Roll20. Other than that it is listed as a Compendium source (I can verify this), is there any public statement as to their intention? If so, I will find out what I can for you. PS, I can see that even the DDB release appears to be staggered throughout the day.

Yes, I wasn't aware of an early access program either, which is why I was confused when I saw that, when creating a new game, I could add the 2024 Player's Handbook Compendium to my game. But that only adds the old compendium. I just wish that Roll20 would use more of its leverage as a major revenue generator for WotC, and I wish it would use that leverage to negotiate early access for Roll20 customers. WotC shouldn't be allowed to so easily create exclusion in favor of its own digital platform. There is a big customer base here as well, and if WotC wants to keep selling and integrating products here, then it's more than fair for Roll20 to ask that our customers not be excluded from pre-order benefits. I can understand WotC giving D&D Beyond customers exclusive early access for a few days, but why make everyone else wait for weeks? If you pre-order other digital products and games through various third-party platforms such as Steam, you typically get the same early access as direct digital customers. That's how it should work with WotC and Roll20 as well.

WOTC, will promote and give advantage to its own products (like D&DBeyond) ahead of anyone else, just like any other corp. would.

Yes, we all know that. But Roll20 should also be looking to promote and give advantage to its own products. The corporate world cuts both ways. Roll20 should be using its market position, the size of its customer base, and its history of revenue generation for WotC to negotiate early access to the same products. If WotC wants primacy for D&D Beyond, it can still have that. But Roll20 should be negotiating so that its own customers also get early access, either at the same time or within days or a week. T his is how releases are handled between many different game companies and digital platforms in the gaming industry.  In the corporate world, you don't simply let a business partner dictate all the terms to you, especially when you have leverage. You negotiate a fair deal that benefits everyone involved and your own customers, who ultimately drive your business interests. Maybe Roll20 has tried that and WotC has refused. That would be a clear sign of a bad faith business relationship. But you have to negotiate and use whatever leverage you have. Otherwise, if your business partner isn't committed to mutually beneficial arrangements, then you're going to be used and abused, and eventually that partner will eliminate you from the equation once it has sufficiently weakened your position. I love Roll20, so I want to see this platform continue to be successful and continue to put its customers first and remain one of the top two or three VTTs for D&D games. One great way to do that is to push for fair deals on early access, so you're not giving away all the advantage to D&D Beyond.

Roll20 has been offering weekly free products to people who have invested in the pre-order. I was impressed when I saw this and I think it is a brilliant marketing move, given that the incentive for almost every previous pre order was "You don't have to buy it on release day". I wish they had thought of this for previous pre-orders, but it' an excellent response (intended or not) to WotC's proprietary early releases.