Taking Time to Get It Right
Kasedo Games and Bulwark Studios confirmed on December 14, 2025, that Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 is being delayed from its original late 2025 window to Spring 2026. The reason? The developers want to respond to player feedback from the popular Steam Next Fest demo while applying final polish to new features and systems. To soften the blow, they dropped an exclusive trailer showcasing two faction leaders: Tech-Acquisitor Scaevola for the Adeptus Mechanicus and Necron Lord Ominekh for the Necrons.
The delay announcement came with reassurances that Bulwark Studios is committed to addressing performance concerns raised during the demo period through general code optimization. They’re also using the extra development time for continued refinement of campaign content and new systems that weren’t present in the original Mechanicus or the demo build. That includes the leader customization system shown in the new trailer.
For fans who’ve been waiting since the game’s May 2024 announcement, this is bittersweet news. Nobody wants delays, but everyone prefers polished games over rushed messes. The original Mechanicus launched in 2018 to critical acclaim specifically because it was a well-crafted tactical experience that understood what made Warhammer 40K special. Rushing Mechanicus 2 to hit an arbitrary 2025 deadline would risk squandering that goodwill.
Scaevola: The Tech-Hungry Acquisitor
The new trailer provides a detailed look at Tech-Acquisitor Scaevola, one of the playable Adeptus Mechanicus leaders. Fans of the original Mechanicus will recognize Scaevola as one of the quirky high-ranking tech priests who debated missions in the first game. They removed so much of their humanity that they now speak entirely in equations, obsessed with recovering alien technology regardless of philosophical implications.
In Mechanicus 2, Scaevola becomes a fully playable commander with unique abilities centered on Cognition manipulation and tech acquisition. The trailer showcases two distinct build paths. The first focuses on Cognition generation, using skills like Voltaic Excoriation to allow melee strikes to unleash instability directly, combined with Teleportation Matrix for quick escapes. This creates a hit-and-run playstyle where Scaevola darts in, generates Cognition through attacks, then teleports to safety.
The alternative build turns Scaevola into a frontline menace. Acquiring the Eradication Ray, Temporcopia skill, and Nanophage Manipulation allows devastating enemy units with damage-over-time effects. The key synergy is consuming inflicted debuffs to recover HP as needed, creating a self-sustaining damage dealer who gets stronger the more chaos they spread. It’s a fundamentally different approach that lets players customize Scaevola to match their tactical preferences.
Scaevola’s Build Options
- Cognition Generation Build – Focus on hit-and-run tactics with Voltaic Excoriation and Teleportation Matrix
- Frontline Menace Build – Devastating damage-over-time with Eradication Ray and Nanophage Manipulation
- Self-sustaining combat through consuming debuffs to recover HP
- Melee strikes that unleash instability on enemies
- Quick escape options for tactical repositioning
- Multiple paths to Cognition generation beyond standard mechanics
Ominekh: The Reanimation Specialist
On the Necron side, the trailer showcases Necron Lord Ominekh, one of Vargard Nefershah’s first deployable commanders. Where Scaevola focuses on Cognition, Ominekh specializes in reanimation and Dominion generation while commanding diverse Necron units. His entire playstyle revolves around bringing fallen warriors back from the dead and generating the Dominion points Necrons use instead of Cognition.
The standout synergy for Ominekh involves unlocking a Technomancer and upgrading them with Rites of Reanimation. This creates incredibly powerful resurrection chains where reanimated units near the Technomancer receive significant armor buffs. Combined with the Immortal Servitude upgrade from the Necron tech tree, which allows units to rise twice instead of once, Ominekh can create nearly unkillable armies that refuse to stay dead.
Alternatively, players can spec Ominekh to rapidly generate and sustain Dominion, unlocking the most powerful relics and command protocols available. The Royal Touch relic exemplifies this build: it instantly executes a target, and if you sacrifice your own unit, Ominekh heals and gains a massive Dominion surge. It’s a dark tactical choice that turns your own forces into renewable resources for devastating power spikes.
The Leader System Changes Everything
What makes the leader system so significant for Mechanicus 2 is how it transforms the strategic depth compared to the original game. The first Mechanicus featured quirky tech priest characters who provided narrative flavor between missions but weren’t directly playable with unique abilities. You customized your generic tech priests with weapons and upgrades, but they lacked distinct personalities and specialized skillsets.
Mechanicus 2 flips that completely. Every leader brings unique abilities, preferred playstyles, and synergies that reward building your army composition around their strengths. Scaevola demands different unit selections and tactical approaches than other Adeptus Mechanicus leaders. Ominekh’s resurrection focus creates entirely different strategic considerations than Necron leaders who might emphasize aggressive damage or board control.
The trailer emphasizes that leaders can be further customized with relics and command protocols unlocked through each faction’s tech tree. This creates exponential build variety where the base leader abilities combine with researched upgrades and equipped relics to produce dramatically different playstyles. Two players using Scaevola might have completely different experiences based on how they spec abilities and what they prioritize in the tech tree.
What Else Is New in Mechanicus 2
Beyond the leader system, Mechanicus 2 adds substantial improvements over the 2018 original. Both factions are fully playable across separate narrative campaigns, letting players experience the conflict from Adeptus Mechanicus and Necron perspectives. The story revolves around a planetary conflict on Hekateus IV, where Vargard Nefershah awakens after millennia to annihilate the Mechanicus interlopers who unknowingly settled on her tomb world.
Environmental mechanics now play a crucial role in combat. Destructible cover systems force players to think carefully about positioning, especially for the more fragile Mechanicus forces. Necrons can destroy cover entirely, creating asymmetric tactical options that reflect each faction’s strengths. Battles take place across visually diverse biomes including forge cities, alien jungles, frozen tundra, and howling cliffs.
The revamped Cognition system addresses accessibility concerns from the original. Instead of generating Cognition through limited methods tied to specific actions, Mechanicus 2 lets individual units collect Cognition by completing smaller objectives or taking certain actions. This creates more flexibility in approach and reduces the rigidity that sometimes made the first game frustrating for newcomers while maintaining tactical depth veterans appreciate.
Leagues of Votann Make Their Videogame Debut
One surprise announcement from earlier trailers is that Mechanicus 2 features the Leagues of Votann, one of Warhammer 40K’s newest factions making their first appearance in a videogame. These space-dwelling dwarf descendants bring advanced technology and a completely different cultural approach to warfare. Their motivations on Hekateus IV remain deliberately mysterious in promotional materials.
Whether the Leagues of Votann are playable or simply appear as NPCs and potential allies isn’t confirmed yet. Bulwark Studios mentioned they had creative breathing room exploring how the Kin might interact with the Adeptus Mechanicus, noting natural tension between two deeply advanced but philosophically opposed approaches to technology and knowledge. That suggests meaningful story integration rather than just cameo appearances.
Learning From the Demo Feedback
The Steam Next Fest demo proved extremely popular, giving thousands of players hands-on time with Mechanicus 2’s core systems. That feedback is directly driving the delay decision. Bulwark Studios identified performance concerns that need addressing through code optimization. They also discovered which new systems need refinement before the full release.
One quality-of-life change mentioned in earlier previews is a setting that automatically selects the Move action when a unit is chosen. This sounds minor, but it eliminates repeated inputs when cycling through squads, shaving seconds off every single turn. Over a 20-hour campaign, those seconds add up to meaningful time savings while maintaining tactical momentum.
Animation speed-up options from the demo are being retained and potentially expanded. Turn-based tactics games live or die on pacing. If animations drag and each turn takes forever, even engaging combat becomes tedious. Mechanicus 2 is targeting the friction points that appear during extended play sessions, ensuring the game remains enjoyable 15 hours in rather than becoming a chore.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus 2 release?
The game is now targeting Spring 2026 after being delayed from its original late 2025 window. Kasedo Games and Bulwark Studios are using the extra time to address demo feedback and polish new systems.
What platforms is Mechanicus 2 coming to?
Mechanicus 2 will release on Windows PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. There’s no mention of last-gen console versions for PS4 or Xbox One.
Can I play as both Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus?
Yes, both factions are fully playable with separate narrative campaigns. Players can experience the conflict from either perspective, with gameplay and story differences between the two campaigns.
Do I need to play the first Mechanicus?
No, Mechanicus 2 is a standalone experience. While there are returning characters like Scaevola and narrative connections, the game is designed to be accessible to newcomers. That said, playing the 2018 original provides context and appreciation for character development.
How many leaders are in the game?
The exact number hasn’t been confirmed, but the trailer mentions multiple leaders per faction. Scaevola is one of several Adeptus Mechanicus commanders, and Ominekh is described as one of Nefershah’s “first deployable lords,” suggesting multiple Necron leader options.
Is there a demo available?
The Steam Next Fest demo was available for a limited time. It’s unclear if the demo will return before launch, but the popularity and feedback from that demo directly influenced the delay decision.
Will the Leagues of Votann be playable?
This hasn’t been confirmed yet. The Leagues of Votann appear in the game and are making their videogame debut, but whether they’re playable or only appear as NPCs and story elements remains unannounced.
What’s different from the first Mechanicus?
Major changes include fully playable Necrons with their own campaign, the leader customization system, destructible cover mechanics, environmental biome variety, revamped Cognition/Dominion systems, and expanded narrative written by Black Library author Ben Counter.
Worth the Extra Wait
Delays always sting, especially when you’ve been anticipating a sequel to one of the best Warhammer 40K tactics games ever made. But Bulwark Studios is making the right call by taking extra time to respond to feedback and polish the experience. The original Mechanicus succeeded by being meticulously crafted, understanding what made the setting special, and delivering tight tactical gameplay that respected player time and intelligence.
The leader deep dive trailer shows exactly the kind of strategic depth that made the first game compelling. Scaevola and Ominekh aren’t just cosmetic variants. They’re fundamentally different tactical tools that reshape how you approach combat, build your army, and respond to threats. Multiply that across multiple leaders per faction, add the tech tree customization and relic systems, and you get exponential build variety that ensures no two playthroughs feel identical.
Spring 2026 isn’t that far away. The extra few months of development will be forgotten the moment players dive into Mechanicus 2’s campaigns and discover the depth Bulwark Studios is building. For now, the trailer provides plenty to analyze, theorize about, and plan strategies around. Scaevola’s equation-speak philosophy finally gets to shine on the battlefield. Ominekh’s legions will rise from the dead as many times as necessary. And somewhere in the shadows, the Leagues of Votann are watching with inscrutable purposes.
The Omnissiah demands perfection. The Necrons have waited millions of years. We can wait a few more months for Mechanicus 2 to be everything it deserves to be.