Matt Mercer says Critical Role will spotlight other creators on Beacon

Matthew Mercer told Variety in a conversation reported by Polygon (Jan. 30, 2026) that Critical Role’s future is less about expanding the brand himself and more about using the platform to showcase other creators. “I got nothing,” he said, adding that he feels he has already “far exceeded” his own ambitions.

Mercer framed the shift as a responsibility: “how best can I enable it to show off other people’s passions and other people’s stuff,” he said in the Variety interview. He has previously said he may one day “pass the torch on” to new faces after he wraps up Campaign 4, and stepping back from his usual DM role is presented as part of that transition.

Polygon notes recent moves that align with that approach: Mercer appeared as a player on Acquisitions Incorporated’s first Daggerheart show (unveiled at PAX Unplugged 2025 and later uploaded to Beacon), and Critical Role has brought Viva La Dirt League’s Daggerheart: Azerim and other actual-play series like Re-Slayer’s Take and Candela Obscura to the Beacon platform.

The company has also expanded behind the scenes: longtime DMs Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford now work full-time for Darrington Press after leaving Wizards of the Coast last year. Mercer argued there’s value in platform control, saying, “It’s very dangerous to put all your stakes on a platform you don’t control,” and describing Beacon as a way for creatives to support themselves.

matthew mercer, critical role, beacon platform, daggerheart, acquisitions incorporated, darrington press, campaign 4, viva la dirt league, re-slayer's take, candela obscura, chris perkins, jeremy crawford, pax unplugged 2025, platform control