It’s been eight long years since Dawn of War 3 limped onto the scene and promptly divided the fanbase harder than a Chainsword through Ork flesh. But at last, the franchise is returning. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 has been officially announced, and while the reveal itself is big news, it’s the name behind the development that’s perhaps the most intriguing.
For the first time in the series’ history, Relic Entertainment won’t be leading the charge. Instead, the torch has been passed to King Art Games, a German studio best known for Iron Harvest, the alternate-history RTS that snagged awards and critical praise back in 2020.
The signs are promising. Iron Harvest might not have had Space Marines or Necrons, but its emphasis on weighty strategy, unit management, and large-scale battles carried a strong whiff of classic Dawn of War. It even leaned into base-building and resource control in a way many modern RTS games have abandoned. King Art also has the benefit of hindsight—Dawn of War 3’s attempt to mash together MOBA elements with RTS strategy left many fans cold, and King Art has been upfront about wanting to return to the roots of the series, including base building.
And big is certainly what they’re promising: four playable factions at launch (Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and the Adeptus Mechanicus making their Dawn of War debut), four full campaigns with over 70 missions, and multiplayer options ranging from traditional skirmishes to the return of Last Stand mode.
In 2004 my teenage brain was blown apart by a Bolter shot to the skull. Not only was I discovering the crazy world of girls and hormones, but Relic Entertainment had just released one of the greatest RTS games ever. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War brought the daunting table-top game to PC in spectacular fashion,…
The campaign will even bring players back to Kronus, the setting of the Dark Crusade expansion, with Black Library author John French penning the story. Expect returning faces like Warboss Gorgutz and Librarian Jonah Orion to pop up alongside new characters. Each faction will have its own perspective, and if King Art delivers on the promise of co-op campaign play and non-linear missions, this could be the meatiest single-player RTS in years.
Technically, Dawn of War 4 is aiming high. An expanded “Sync Kill” system promises gruesome, cinematic melee duels in the thick of battle, while environments will range from frozen wastelands to sprawling hive cities. Multiplayer will support up to 3v3, with over 30 maps at launch, and yes—there’ll be an army painter. Because what’s the point of commanding the Emperor’s finest if you can’t paint them neon pink?
Dawn of War 4 is slated for a 2026 release, launching first on PC via Steam. No console versions have been announced yet, but considering Iron Harvest eventually made the leap to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the same happen here. For now, though, the message is clear: Dawn of War is back, and it’s under new management.