Exciting news for Warhammer fans: Dawn of War 4 is in the works and will arrive in 2026! This time, it’s being developed by a German studio called KING Art Games instead of the original developer, Relic.
The announcement came during gamescom’s Opening Night Live, along with a CGI trailer. While it may not rival the iconic Dawn of War 3 trailer, it’s still a thrilling glimpse into what’s to come. This announcement comes right after the release of Dawn of War: Definitive Edition, a remaster from Relic, sparking renewed interest in the franchise.
Despite Relic’s absence, there’s cause for optimism. KING Art Games is known for its work on Iron Harvest, a well-received real-time strategy game featuring similar elements to Dawn of War. Fans can expect a return to core themes, with the development team pledging to focus on the franchise’s roots. This will echo the original Dawn of War game and its expansions, which many fans still celebrate.
A key feature of Dawn of War 4 is the return of base-building. Unlike its predecessors, Dawn of War 2 and 3, which downplayed this aspect, the new game will reinstate elements like requisition points and power nodes. KING Art promises the game will be the largest Dawn of War at launch, including four playable factions: Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and the newly introduced Adeptus Mechanicus. With over ten commanders and 110 units and buildings, it’s shaping up to offer plenty of variety.
The campaign will span four parts, each focusing on one of the factions and set on the planet Kronus— a familiar location for longtime fans from the Dark Crusade expansion. The storyline takes place about 200 years later, featuring well-loved characters like Ork boss Gorgutz and Space Marine psyker Jonah Orion. Notably, the campaign is penned by John French, a veteran author of the Warhammer universe, promising over 40 hours of engaging cutscenes and optional content.
Multiplayer fans can look forward to various modes at launch, including standard skirmishes, co-op, and competitive play. The beloved Last Stand mode, a horde survival challenge from Dawn of War 2, will also return.
One intriguing new feature is the “combat director,” an animation system allowing units to lock onto targets during melee. This means that combat animations will be more synchronized, enhancing the visual appeal of battles. However, it raises questions about how this will affect players who prefer precise micro-management in combat.
There’s a bittersweet feeling about this transition away from Relic, a studio that created iconic titles like the original Dawn of War and the first two Homeworld games. The change reflects a broader trend in gaming where new studios often take fresh directions with established franchises. While some fans are excited about returning to the series’ roots, others may reminisce about the unique innovations introduced in the past.
As the release date approaches, fans will undoubtedly keep a close eye on how the game develops. The excitement around Dawn of War 4 shows the enduring popularity of real-time strategy games, even as the gaming landscape evolves.
