The Warhammer series is reaching more and more people, and its new releases are attracting a lot of attention from newcomers who want to get into the franchise. Being a strategy game at its core, it makes perfect sense that a real-time strategy game would be a good way to get started, and in 2026, KING Art Games was chosen to bring a new installment of the Dawn of War saga. Prior to its presentation at the Opening Night Live event at gamescom 2025, we had the opportunity to attend a virtual presentation and play the demo of Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War IV, which is currently being played in Cologne, Germany.
What is Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War IV about?
Dawn of War IV is a real-time strategy game, the spiritual successor to the original Dawn of War, set 200 years after the events of Dawn of War: Dark Crusade on the planet Cronus. It features base building, large armies with unique units and customizable equipment, resource management, research, upgrades, heroes, and several game modes, including multiplayer, co-op, skirmish, and the return of “Last Stand.” The story, written by John French, focuses on the return of the Blood Ravens chapter to Cronus, with returning characters such as Cyrus, Jonah, and Gorguts, and promises a significant amount of CGI and 3D animated scenes. The game features over 110 units and buildings at launch, spread across four complete factions, each with its own campaign.
The four playable factions are the Space Marines, known for their customizable elite units and powerful shock and awe tactics; the Orks, who use cheap units and buildings, spreading their base across the map and using a “WAAAGH” meter for powerful stratagems; the Adeptus Mechanicus, which focuses on data and connectivity with advanced Auspex technology and a network-based system; and the Necrons, who prioritize expanding their domain, automatic healing, teleportation abilities, and a resurrection mechanic. Each faction has distinct mechanics, unit rosters, and base-building styles, ensuring diverse gameplay experiences.
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One of the most interesting aspects of Dawn of War IV is its melee combat system, in which unit animations are synchronized, creating spectacular and dynamic interactions. More than 10,000 permutations of unit combat were created, allowing any unit to fight any other in melee combat with synchronized animations. This results in varied actions, such as swords clashing, heads being severed, and units jumping on top of each other or being thrown into the air, all dynamically and in response to the player’s actions.
A very promising RTS
In our test, we had the opportunity to play a match that sounded pretty simple on paper: establish a base as the Space Marines, support another already established Imperial Guard group, and face the Orcs. Here, base construction is fairly straightforward, with huge buildings and equally large units. The game’s initial missions are straightforward: capture points to obtain resources, as at this point we need to capture requisition points and power centers. These can be captured easily, and we can even upgrade them so that they can defend themselves and generate more resources, although, of course, enemy units will not be too happy about us taking these points away from them.
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Once we obtained these control points, we were able to build up enough strength to attack the main orc base. And boy, was it ever difficult! The orcs have cheaper buildings and units, so we were in a constant struggle to achieve that main objective. One of the details that caught my attention the most was how these units had certain upgrades, allowing you to select weapons or items to change the way they attack, providing a certain dynamism once you understand everything you have to manage.
As for the visuals, we still encountered some issues, given that it is a pre-alpha version. We encountered buildings still running in their most basic structure and a few details here and there in how units react. However, seeing how combat plays out when you zoom in on the camera was truly fascinating. Of course, you can’t always see this level of detail, as you have to keep an eye on several fronts, but hey, you get the idea.
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Dawn of War IV is still in the early stages of development, but what we saw and played makes it clear that KING Art Games is seeking to recapture the classic essence of the series while introducing fresh mechanics that enrich the genre. Its scale, diversity of factions, and spectacular combat promise an experience that both veterans and newcomers will enjoy. There is still a long way to go before its release in 2026, but if it stays on the path it showed in this first test, we could be looking at the triumphant return of one of Warhammer 40K’s most iconic RTS games.
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