Here we are! Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is a reality, and it was announced at Gamescom 2025. Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of what the game is going to be, make sure you watch the trailer below:
Developer and Publisher: The game is being developed by King Art Games, known for Iron Harvest, and published by Deep Silver. This marks a change from the previous developer, Relic Entertainment, who has developed all previous Dawn of Titles until this point.
Release Date: The release date is currently slated for 2026 on PC. The reveal has generated a significant amount of discussion and cautious optimism within the real-time strategy community.
Gameplay: The game is described as a return to the series’ roots, focusing on classic real-time strategy gameplay with base-building, large armies, and an expanded “Sync Kill” system. The game is taking direct inspiration from the first Dawn of War, and it looks like it’s going all-in on the classic RTS formula, with upgradable units and unique and asymmetric factions. The developers have been very clear that they are aiming to win back fans who were disappointed with Dawn of War III‘s shift in design.
- Classic RTS Gameplay: The core mechanics will revolve around classic base-building, resource management, and controlling large armies, moving away from the “hero-unit” focus of Dawn of War II and the MOBA-like elements of Dawn of War III.
- Expanded “Sync Kill” System: One of the most beloved features of the original series, the brutal and cinematic “Sync Kills,” is back and has been expanded upon to make melee combat even more visceral.
- Game Modes: The game will include a robust set of modes at launch, including the four-part single-player campaign, Skirmish mode, co-op, competitive multiplayer, and the highly anticipated return of the “Last Stand” survival mode.
- Customization: The game will feature an in-game editor for player-created content and the return of the popular Army Painter tool for unit customization.
Returning and New Factions: Four factions are confirmed for the launch:
- The Space Marines (specifically the Blood Ravens chapter, led by returning characters like Captain Cyrus).
- The Orks, with the return of the iconic Warboss Gorgutz.
- The Necrons.
- Making their official debut in the series, the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Campaign: The developing team said that a lot of real-time strategy players value the singleplayer aspect of the game a lot, so they have decided to go full-throtle on the game’s campaign, and instead of having a single campaign where all of the faction will chime in occasionally, the game will feature four distinct story campaigns, with a total of over 70 missions. The story is co-written by Black Library author John French and is set on the planet Kronus, many years after the events of the Dawn of War: Dark Crusade expansion.
Characters: The game will feature the return of characters from previous titles, including Captain Cyrus, Chief Librarian Jonah Orion, and Warboss Gorgutz.
After the successful release of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War- Definitive Edition, this was the best news Warhammer 40,000 and Dawn of War fans could have gotten! I’m extremely excited for the game and cannot wait to know how it’s going to turn out!
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