During the Opening Night Live ceremony at Gamescom 2025, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV was officially unveiled, ending an eight-year hiatus for the series. Developed by King Art Games (Iron Harvest) and published by Deep Silver, this RTS classic returns to its roots—with base building, four full-fledged factions, large-scale campaigns, and expanded multiplayer modes. The game is set for release in 2026.

A New Developer for Warhammer 40,000

The biggest surprise for everyone was the involvement of a new developer. Instead of Relic Entertainment, the creators of the original Dawn of War, the new project is being handled by King Art Games—with support from Deep Silver and a German development grant.

This has reassured fans rather than alarmed them: Iron Harvest showcased King Art's expertise in large-scale strategies and mechanical storytelling, making the studio a strong candidate to revive the Warhammer franchise after the mixed reception of Dawn of War III. However, some remain skeptical of the new studio, unsure of what to expect from the upcoming game.

A Return to the Franchise's Roots

After the controversial experiments of Dawn of War II and Dawn of War III, the new developers at King Art Games emphasize that Dawn of War IV will return to the large-scale battles and deep base-building that made the 2004 original legendary.

King Art Games focuses on large battles, a deep base-building system, and faction diversity, along with an expanded version of the iconic Sync Kill system, offering cinematic melee finishers.

The studio also introduced a new animation system called "Combat Director," ensuring that each unit in melee combat targets a specific enemy, creating more realistic and spectacular encounters.

What the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV Trailer Showed

Story and Setting of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV

The main campaign takes place on Kronus—a planet well-known to fans from the Dark Crusade expansion. Events occur about 200 years after those events, as old rivals and new forces converge on the ravaged world once again.

At launch, players will have four factions, each with its own campaign:

• Space Marines (the Blood Ravens Chapter returns with Captain Cyrus and Librarian Jonah Orion);
• Orks (led by the charismatic boss Gorgutz);
• Necrons (the tomb world awakens again);
• Adeptus Mechanicus (making their debut in the Dawn of War series).

The campaigns, written by Black Library author John French, will include over 70 missions, CGI intros, fully animated cutscenes, and optional branching elements to enhance replayability.

Gameplay and Modes in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV

In addition to the campaigns, Dawn of War IV offers a wide range of additional modes, ensuring many hours of separate gaming sessions—both against bots and other players:

• Skirmishes against customizable AI;
• Co-op campaign playthroughs;
• Competitive multiplayer—1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 on 30+ maps;
• Last Stand mode—the popular survival challenge from Dawn of War II returns;
• Army Painter and customization options to personalize troops.

At launch, over 10 commanders, 110 units and structures, as well as a built-in mod and scenario editor, are promised.

Fan Reaction to the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV Announcement

For RTS fans, the announcement of Dawn of War IV means not just the return of a beloved franchise but also a return of the genre to good form. In recent years, strategies have not been in the best position, and many expect Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV to face challenges in standing out among other games today.

However, the developers' statements and promises give hope that the game will at least please fans of the Warhammer universe, though attracting a new audience remains uncertain.

The community's reaction to the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV announcement is mixed. People remain hopeful that under new developers, the game will breathe new life and correct the mistakes of the previous two installments—especially Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, which received a lot of criticism.

Some are somewhat skeptical about the new studio, as they are unfamiliar with King Art Games' work. Others describe their projects as "mediocre," yet joke that "mediocre" is still better than Dawn of War III.

Despite concerns about the game's future, it can be confidently said that players are excited about this announcement and eagerly await the new installment of the beloved Warhammer 40,000 franchise.

Release Date and Platforms for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV

The exact release date for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is not yet available, but it has been confirmed that Dawn of War IV will launch in 2026—initially on PC via Steam. RTS games have always been a "natural home" for PC; however, King Art's previous game, Iron Harvest, also released on PlayStation and Xbox, so console versions are still possible. Currently, only the PC version is confirmed, and the game can already be added to the wishlist on Steam.

Pre-orders for the Game

Pre-orders are not yet available, but fans can already add Dawn of War IV to their wishlist on Steam and subscribe to updates on the official website dawnofwar4.com. Considering the release in 2026, more details—including the exact date, collector's editions, and possible console versions—are expected throughout 2025.