The Fallacy of the One True Game

It has been said publicly that the key to Dungeons and Dragons Next (or 5th Edition if you prefer) is to bring the various game systems together, and to once and for all end the “edition wars”.  To create the next "One True Game". Over the nearly 40 years that Dungeons and Dragons has been around we have seen five distinct systems, Basic, Advanced, Advanced 2nd, 3/3.5 and 4.0 (not including third party versions like Hackmaster or Pathfinder). Each of these systems had their strengths and weaknesses to be sure, but each one also has a vocal group of people who play them and nothing else. The problem I see with Dungeons and Dragons Next, is that it is going to be yet another edition in the “edition wars”, no matter what Wizards of the Coast wants. A large chunk of Wizards of the Coast's audience will move to Dungeons and Dragons Next, while a sizable minority will stay with 4th edition. Just like a sizable minority stayed with 3.5 when 4th edition came out.
 
I think that Wizards should not continue this constant fracturing of the community as I have seen over the years. What they should do is embrace the fact that they have these various communities in the gaming world, and continue to produce materials for them. Much like the anticipated release of the the 1st Edition Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual, I could see a re-release of out of print editions of the game, and new material being released for them. Even today, third party companies, such as Skirmisher Publishing, are creating and making money off of older, no longer supported editions of the game. There is nothing that is stopping Wizards of the Coast from doing this, other than this desire to have “The One True Game” and nothing else that exists.
 
While I don't think that Wizards of the Coast will do this, I do think that the third party developers will continue to support these older editions for as long as they are able. If games like Pathfinder are any indication, I think that these former “One True Games” will continue for a long time to come.