In September 2021, it was announced that a backward compatible "evolution" of 5th edition would be released in 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of the game.[50][51] Charlie Hall, for Polygon in January 2022, highlighted that the first backwards compatible book is Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (2022) and that the sourcebook models how this "evolution" could look.[47] Hall wrote:

"it's that 'next evolution' bit that keeps tripping people up. Many have speculated, without evidence, that it will be the full-fledged 6th edition of the game. But there's a downside to breaking ties with nearly a decade's worth of products [...] and starting fresh. Just look to the various 'edition wars' that have cropped up over the years when the franchise transitioned from 3rd edition, to 3.5, to 4th edition. Instead, it appears that Wizards will be taking a far more incremental approach this time, weaving in changes both large and small while still maintaining a connection to what came before".[47]

Rogue-like: Evolution [v1.1a]