Welcome to Total War in the Grimdark Future
Total War is finally heading into the forty first millennium. Total War: Warhammer 40K is real, and PC players will eventually get to wage massive real time battles across the stars using some of the most iconic factions in all of Warhammer.
The game is still some way off, but there is already a solid amount of info about the setting, the launch factions, and how Creative Assembly is adapting 40K’s brutal futuristic warfare into the classic Total War formula.
If you play on PC, the good news is that this will be the first Total War that launches simultaneously on PC and current gen consoles, which also hints at a big budget and a long support plan.
Release Window, Platforms, and Trailer
There is no exact release date yet for Total War: Warhammer 40K. Creative Assembly has said that we will hear more in late 2026, which strongly suggests the full release will not happen before 2027. So this is a long term title to watch rather than something right around the corner.
Platforms are confirmed though. Total War: Warhammer 40K will release on:
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
That makes it the first Total War game designed from the ground up for both PC and console at launch. For PC hardware enthusiasts this matters because the game will almost certainly be built with modern multi core CPUs and reasonably powerful GPUs in mind to handle large scale battles and cinematic effects across all platforms.
There is currently one trailer that mixes cinematic scenes with very early pre alpha gameplay. Content creators have apparently already had hands on sessions, but they are not allowed to share impressions yet, so the finer gameplay details will come later.
Launch Factions and the 40K Setting
At launch Total War: Warhammer 40K will feature four main factions, following the same pattern as the original Total War: Warhammer. Each one offers a different playstyle and fantasy on the battlefield.
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Space Marines
Genetically enhanced super soldiers in power armor. They are few in number but extremely elite, hitting like a truck and shrugging off damage. Expect smaller, tough armies with powerful abilities and advanced wargear. -
Orks
Massive green hordes that live for battle. They swarm the map in huge numbers, wielding ramshackle guns and clanking war machines. If you enjoy overwhelming force and chaotic fights, this is the faction to watch. -
Aeldari
An ancient, dying alien race that relies on speed, precision, and psychic power. They strike fast, exploit weaknesses, and disappear before the enemy can fully respond. Think high skill, glass cannon style gameplay. -
Astra Militarum
The Imperial Guard. Endless ranks of human soldiers backed by heavy tanks and artillery. They do not win through genetic perfection but through discipline, numbers, and a lot of big guns.
One notable absence at launch is Chaos. Creative Assembly has confirmed that Chaos will not be in the base roster on day one but is absolutely planned for later. Given the backlash when Chaos was sold as pre order DLC in the first Total War: Warhammer, it sounds like the studio wants to handle this more carefully and take the time to do those factions justice.
On the brighter side, one controversial DLC from older Total War titles is gone. Blood and gore will not be a separate paid pack this time around. It will be included in the base game, which is good news if you want the full grimdark 40K experience without extra purchases.
Story wise, the game is set in the Era Indomitus. This is the period after the Fall of Cadia, when a vast warp storm known as the Cicatrix Maledictum tears across the galaxy, splitting the Imperium in half. Primaris Space Marines and their Primarch Roboute Guilliman launch the Indomitus Crusade to reclaim lost worlds and hold back alien and demonic forces. It is a chaotic era with constant war on every front, which fits Total War perfectly.
Actor David Harbour, known from Stranger Things, will also be starring in the game. He is likely voicing a key Space Marine character or commander, which should give the campaign some extra personality.
Gameplay, Features, and Why PC Gamers Should Care
Total War: Warhammer 40K keeps the core structure of the series. You have a strategic campaign layer and real time battles, but everything is reimagined for a galactic sci fi setting.
On the campaign map you will move battle fleets between solar systems instead of marching armies across a single continent. You will occupy planets, build up strongholds, and upgrade your fleet as you expand your influence.
In battles you will command ground forces in large real time clashes, similar to the fantasy Warhammer games but with more emphasis on ranged firepower, vehicles, and cover. Some key features already confirmed include:
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Army painter and custom chapters
There will be an in game army painter that lets you customize your forces, including creating your own custom Space Marine chapters. You can tweak looks, abilities, traits, and wargear. This is a huge plus for 40K fans who love personalizing their armies. -
Exterminatus
The nuclear option of the Imperium is in. You will be able to erase planets entirely, using Exterminatus to deny worlds to the enemy. How this will work mechanically is not fully clear yet, but it should add some brutal strategic choices to the campaign. -
Orbital bombardments
The trailer already shows orbital lasers hammering the battlefield. Expect faction specific bombardment abilities such as artillery strikes for Astra Militarum or aerial assaults and ship based firepower for Space Marines. -
Huge units and war machines
The game promises towering walkers and immense war machines alongside more conventional troops and vehicles. That suggests units like Imperial Knights and other large 40K hardware, pushing the scale even beyond the fantasy Total War: Warhammer games. -
Dynamic terrain and cover
Cover is a core part of tabletop 40K, so Creative Assembly is building it into the engine. Every impact can reshape terrain and create new cover and tactical options. This should make firefights and positioning much more important than in earlier Total War games.
Interestingly, you probably will not directly play as the Primarch Roboute Guilliman himself in the campaign. Primarchs are demi gods in 40K and would be wildly overpowered compared to normal legendary lords. Instead, it looks like you will command a powerful but more grounded Space Marine leader, which also makes it easier to role play your own custom chapter using the army painter.
Overall, Total War: Warhammer 40K looks like a huge project that blends grand strategy with the scale and spectacle of the 40K universe. If you are a PC gamer who enjoys big campaigns, deep faction variety, and spectacular battles that push your hardware, this is definitely a title to keep on your Steam wishlist while we wait for more details in 2026 and beyond.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/total-war-warhammer-40k-everything-we-know-about-the-series-upcoming-grimdark-instalment/
