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Roll20 to merge with OneBookShelf

Roll20 and OneBookShelf will combine forces to create a tabletop empire.

July 13, 2022 12:00 PM

Roll20 is one of the biggest websites in tabletop gaming. Allowing a convenient way for users to enjoy TTRPGs and other tabletop games completely digitally. In its efforts to expand its gaming empire, Roll20 will join forces with another major player in the space. It’s been announced that Roll20 and OneBookShelf will soon merge their business.

The merger between Roll20 and OneBookShelf was announced by the former today and details were shared with Shacknews. OneBookShelf is a digital storefront that allows users to buy and download various TTRPGs as well as other card games, comic books, and more. The companies believe that the merger will make it easier for creators to connect with audiences and vice versa.

roll20 merges with onebookshelf — An example of what PDFs will look like in Roll20
Source: Roll20

“Joining forces with OneBookShelf creates the best place to purchase, peruse, and play TTRPGs online, period,” said Ankit Lal, CEO of Roll20. “Since 2012, Roll20 has been the industry leader in virtual tabletop gaming, hosting content from some of the biggest publishers in the space, including Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, and Chaosium. With this deal, we gain significant progress on several of our user promises that dramatically improve the VTT, and will work together to continue adding new and exciting features to our already industry-leading platform.”

As a part of the merger, Roll20 will receive PDF support so that GMs and players can share and view documents within the program. OneBookShelf’s PDF library will be brought to Roll20 at a later date. Ankit Lal will continue to serve as CEO following the close of the merger.

Roll20 saw a massive surge in popularity during the pandemic, and its business has also seen a lot of evolution in the time since. For more on what’s happening at Roll20 and the world of TTRPGs, Shacknews is your place.

Donovan Erskine

News Editor

Donovan is a young journalist from Maryland, who likes to game. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom's desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge Scream nerd and film fanatic that will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_

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 reply
July 13, 2022 12:00 PM

Donovan Erskine posted a new article, Roll20 to merge with OneBookShelf
- TotalFusionOne
  
   reply
  July 13, 2022 12:08 PM
  
  Oh that's pretty gross.
  - ColoradoCNC
    
     reply
    July 13, 2022 7:35 PM
    
    How so? I've only briefly used Roll20 on a campaign years ago, so to me this just seems like an easier way of integrating existing TTRPG character sheets and whatnot directly into the system.
    - TotalFusionOne
      
       reply
      July 13, 2022 8:28 PM
      
      At the exclusion of the other VTTs out there that do it much, much, much better than Roll20 does most likely.
      
      Roll20 is the Capital One of VTTs. Does the basics right but nothing more and charges way too much for what they offer. They've also been known to be more than a bit scummy with folks being critical of their program.
- errational
  
   reply
  July 13, 2022 12:45 PM
  
  Damn. Foundry VTT just inked a deal with drive thru awhile ago so I assume that will be cancelled in the future
  - TotalFusionOne
    
     reply
    July 13, 2022 12:57 PM
    
    I imagine.
    
    I really hope WotC rethinks their deal with drivethru after this.