Out of nowhere, Warhammer and Vampire Survivors just collided in the most unexpected and weirdly perfect crossover. Auroch Digital announced Warhammer Survivors on November 4, 2025, a brand new roguelite that fuses the endlessly chaotic horde-slaying action of Vampire Survivors with Games Workshop’s grimdark universes. The best part? It’s officially licensed, developed in partnership with poncle (the actual creator of Vampire Survivors), and uses the Vampire Survivors engine itself.
- What Exactly Is Warhammer Survivors
- Two Universes, Infinite Slaughter
- Weapon Combination and Power Evolution
- Why This Partnership Makes Perfect Sense
- The Little Details That Show Respect for the Franchise
- Release Date and What’s Coming Next
- Why Vampire Survivors Clones Are Everywhere Now
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Exactly Is Warhammer Survivors
If you’ve never played Vampire Survivors, here’s the core concept. You pick a character, they auto-attack everything around them, endless hordes of enemies swarm from every direction, you dodge and collect power-ups that combine into increasingly absurd weapons, and you try to survive for fifteen minutes while the screen fills with so many explosions and effects that it becomes pure sensory overload. It’s brilliant in its simplicity and completely addictive.
Warhammer Survivors takes that exact formula and swaps the vampires for Space Marines, Skaven, Chaos daemons, and everything else in the Warhammer universes. You’ll pick from iconic characters like Malum Caedo from Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Cadian Shock Trooper Kozlowski, Space Marine Intercessor Brother Luca, Neave Blacktalon from Age of Sigmar, and others. Each character comes with unique weapons and starting stats, so no two runs feel identical. The weapons themselves are pure Warhammer fan service, ranging from iconic Boltguns and Astartes Chainswords to Whirlwind Axes and even Nuln Oil paint, that legendary Warhammer shade used for basically everything.
Two Universes, Infinite Slaughter
The coolest aspect of Warhammer Survivors is that you can choose between two completely different settings. Pick Warhammer 40,000 for the grimdark far future where there’s only war, and you’ll fight through Space Hulks and ashen plains against endless Tyranid swarms. Or go fantasy with Warhammer Age of Sigmar, exploring the open plains of Aqshy while fighting Skaven hordes and Chaos enemies. Each universe has its own enemy factions, arenas, weapons, and unlockable characters, so there’s massive replayability built in.
The level design clearly respects both universes too. Your 40K runs take place in tight, confined corridors of abandoned Space Hulks with industrial aesthetic, while Age of Sigmar sends you across open ashen plains with totally different environmental vibes. This isn’t just a palette swap. Auroch Digital and poncle designed fundamentally different gameplay spaces for each setting.
Weapon Combination and Power Evolution
Like Vampire Survivors, the core loop involves collecting pickups during each run, but in Warhammer Survivors, weapons and power-ups can combine into completely new forms. Imagine picking up a Bolter, then finding ammo upgrade pickups, then discovering an evolution that transforms it into something entirely different. The game encourages experimentation because every run is a chance to discover new combinations and create screen-clearing storms of bullets, blades, and magic.
Each run gives you opportunities to unlock new characters, upgrades, weapon combinations, and secrets. The roguelite progression means every death teaches you something and gets you closer to unlocking new gear for your next attempt. It’s the same addictive loop that made Vampire Survivors so compelling, but dressed up in baroque Warhammer armor.
Why This Partnership Makes Perfect Sense
Auroch Digital already has a decade of Warhammer experience under its belt. They made Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, a beloved first-person shooter that nailed the grimdark aesthetic, and they understand how to translate Games Workshop’s IP into compelling game design. Poncle brings expertise in roguelite progression loops and addictive arcade gameplay that’s already proven to work.
The fact that poncle is directly involved in development, not just licensing, is huge. This isn’t some lazy cash-in licensed game. It’s poncle saying we believe in this enough to use our engine and participate in making it. That’s the kind of partnership that actually results in a quality product rather than a corporate obligation. Plus, it’s officially recognized as part of the Survivors lineage, which means it has poncle’s blessing to be called a real Survivors game.
The Little Details That Show Respect for the Franchise
The developers clearly care about Warhammer fandom. In Vampire Survivors, you collect pills that represent experience gems. In Warhammer Survivors, those are shaped like skulls instead, a small visual touch that respects the grimdark aesthetic. Nuln Oil paint being an actual in-game weapon is brilliant humor for anyone who’s spent years painting Warhammer models. The entire roster of characters shows deep knowledge of Warhammer lore, not just grabbing random names but selecting characters with actual narrative weight.
Even the level design respects lore. Space Hulks are described in 40K as ancient derelict starships drifting through space, so naturally that’s your arena in the 40K universe. Aqshy is the Realm of Fire in Age of Sigmar, so you’re fighting across open, burning planes. These aren’t random locations. Every environment choice makes sense within the Warhammer universes.
Release Date and What’s Coming Next
Warhammer Survivors hits Steam in 2026, though no specific release date within the year has been announced yet. You can already wishlist it on Steam right now. Auroch Digital has promised more announcements about the game in the coming months, so expect character reveals, gameplay videos, and more details as we get closer to launch.
The fact that a full year remains before release means the team has time to polish and expand the content roster. Vampire Survivors has received constant updates and DLC expansions, so Warhammer Survivors will likely follow a similar post-launch support model. That means the game at launch probably won’t be the final form, but instead the beginning of an evolving experience.
Why Vampire Survivors Clones Are Everywhere Now
This announcement signals how dominant the Survivors genre has become. Vampire Survivors was initially designed as a prototype, almost a joke concept that somehow clicked. After its massive success, dozens of imitators followed. Some were quality clones, others felt like lazy attempts to capitalize on the trend. The difference with Warhammer Survivors is legitimacy. When poncle themselves endorses and participates in a Survivors spin-off, that carries weight.
It also shows that major publishers are recognizing the genre’s appeal. Games Workshop could have ignored roguelites entirely, but instead they leaned into it with an official partnership. That signals confidence that the Survivors formula is here to stay and worth investing real development resources into.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Warhammer Survivors exactly?
Warhammer Survivors is a roguelite action game combining Vampire Survivors’ gameplay formula with characters, weapons, and settings from both Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar universes. You pick a character, survive endless enemy waves, collect power-ups, and attempt to last through each run.
When does Warhammer Survivors release?
Warhammer Survivors launches in 2026 for PC via Steam, but the exact release date within 2026 hasn’t been announced yet. You can wishlist it on Steam now.
Who is developing Warhammer Survivors?
Auroch Digital is developing and publishing the game in partnership with poncle, the creator of Vampire Survivors. Auroch Digital has over a decade of experience with Warhammer games, including Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun.
Is poncle involved in making Warhammer Survivors?
Yes, poncle is directly involved in development and the game uses poncle’s Vampire Survivors engine. This is an official partnership, not just a licensed product made by third parties.
Which characters are playable in Warhammer Survivors?
Revealed characters include Malum Caedo and Cadian Shock Trooper Kozlowski from Warhammer 40K, Space Marine Intercessor Brother Luca, and from Age of Sigmar, Neave Blacktalon, Gotrek Gurnisson, and Sharynn Azurwrath. Many more are coming.
Can I play as Link or characters from other franchises?
No, Warhammer Survivors features only characters from Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar universes. No crossovers with other franchises have been announced.
Is this a free-to-play game or premium?
No pricing has been announced yet. Warhammer Survivors appears to be a paid title, but the exact price point hasn’t been revealed.
Will Warhammer Survivors come to console?
Currently only a Steam PC release has been announced. Console versions for PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo platforms haven’t been mentioned yet.
What makes Warhammer Survivors different from regular Vampire Survivors?
The core gameplay loop is similar, but Warhammer-specific elements include unique characters, weapons based on Warhammer lore, two completely different universe settings (40K and Age of Sigmar), faction-specific enemies, and environmental design that respects the existing Warhammer worlds.
Conclusion
Warhammer Survivors might sound like a silly mashup on paper, but it actually makes perfect sense. Vampire Survivors proved that simple, addictive arcade action appeals to millions of players. Warhammer has an enormous, passionate fanbase that craves more ways to engage with the universes. Combining them with an actual partnership between poncle and Auroch Digital creates something that feels legitimate rather than cynical. The developers clearly understand both franchises and respect them deeply. If you love Vampire Survivors and want it wrapped in grimdark armor, or you’re a Warhammer fan looking for something fresh, Warhammer Survivors is absolutely worth keeping on your radar. The 2026 release can’t come soon enough.