It feels like we have been talking about this game for a decade. The rumors, the “leaks,” the endless debates on Reddit about how cover systems would work—it’s all over. At The Game Awards 2025, Creative Assembly finally ripped the band-aid off and gave us what we wanted: Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is real, it is coming, and if the trailer is anything to go by, it is going to be absolutely massive.
Introduced by Stranger Things star (and known Warhammer nerd) David Harbour, the reveal trailer didn’t just tease a logo; it showed us the scale of the conflict. We are leaving the Old World behind for the Era Indomitus, where the galaxy is burning, and yes, there are Drop Pods.
The Factions: The Big Four
Creative Assembly isn’t messing around with obscure choices for launch. The trailer and subsequent Steam page confirmation locked in four starting factions that cover the essential bases of the 41st Millennium:
- Space Marines: Specifically the Ultramarines (because of course they are). We saw tactical squads, dreadnoughts, and what looked like a Repulsor tank.
- Orks: You can’t have 40k without the Boyz. The trailer showed a massive Green Tide, complete with Kans and a tease of a Gargant.
- Aeldari (Eldar): Bringing the speed and psychic superiority.
- Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard): For those who like to drown their enemies in bodies and artillery.
This is a solid starting lineup. It gives us the elite super-soldiers, the horde faction, the glass cannons, and the combined arms military. The developers have also promised a new “Army Painter” system, meaning you won’t be stuck painting your Marines blue if you prefer the blood red of the Blood Angels.
Gameplay: How Do You Total War with Guns?
This has always been the million-dollar question. Total War is built on blocks of infantry smashing into each other, not squad-level tactics and automatic fire. However, the snippets of gameplay shown suggest a hybrid approach. We saw units utilizing cover (craters, ruins) in a way that looked much more fluid than the “stand behind the wall” mechanics of Empire: Total War.
The scale also seems to be expanding upwards. The campaign map isn’t just a continent; it spans multiple planets. The description mentions “star systems,” implying we might get a Battlefleet Gothic-lite layer for moving armies between worlds, though details on space combat remain thin.
Conclusion
We are likely looking at a late 2026 or early 2027 release, which gives us plenty of time to speculate about DLC (Tyranids and Chaos are definitely coming later, right?). Creative Assembly has a massive task ahead of them adapting the engine for modern warfare, but if they pull this off, it could be the ultimate 40k strategy game.
FAQs
When is the release date?
No official date was given in the trailer, but analysts predict a late 2026 window based on Creative Assembly’s typical announcement-to-release cycle.
Is there a cover system?
The trailer showed units interacting with terrain in a way that suggests a dynamic cover system, crucial for a setting dominated by ranged weaponry.
Can I customize my army?
Yes! A new customization feature was confirmed, allowing players to choose their faction’s colors, emblems, and heraldry.
Will there be space battles?
While “star systems” were mentioned for the campaign map, it is currently unconfirmed if playable real-time space battles will be a feature or if it will focus solely on planetary conquest.
Is Chaos in the game?
Chaos was not listed as a starting playable faction, which is surprising. Expect them to be the main antagonist or the focus of the first major DLC expansion.