Warhammer 40k Dawn of War 4 is real, and it returns the series to its RTS roots

No, you're not dreaming. You're not a teenager again, groggily waking up for school after playing Dawn of War late into the night. You're in your 30s now, you've got two kids asleep upstairs, and you're wondering how much time you can reasonably take off work to play Dawn of War 4. Warhammer's most iconic game series is back, and it looks better than ever. After a divisive second game and a misjudged third entry, developer King Art Games has taken control of the Blood Ravens' battle barge and is returning the series to its RTS roots. Expect big battles, bigger explosions, and all-nighters aplenty.

This is one of the best RTS games, modernized. One of the most iconic Warhammer videogames, resurrected. This is as big as it gets for fans of sci-fi strategy. And, from what was revealed in the trailer at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Dawn of War 4 could be a return to form for the tormented series.

First up are the campaigns, all four of them. Each faction in the game - the Blood Ravens Space Marines, Adeptus Mechanicus, Orks, and Necrons - have their own separate campaign, each of which plays a part in a larger overarching narrative. There are over 70 missions in total, which can be experienced solo or with a friend, and each campaign features around 40 minutes of CGI cutscenes co-penned by Black Library author John French.

While the campaign is clearly the focus, there are numerous other game modes, too. There's Skirmish for your quick fights, competitive multiplayer to crash Knights with your mates, and Last Stand. The latter is a returning favorite which should go down well with the community.

More impressive, however, is the combat director and melee spectacle. With improved animations and expanded sync kills, Dawn of War has never looked better. Drop back onto the tomb world of Kronus 200 years after the events of Dark Crusade and relive your youth with a game that looks to modernize and iterate on a legendary series in meaningful ways.

As revealed during Gamescom's Opening Night Live stream, Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4 will release in 2026.

If you can't wait until then, check out some of our picks of the best Warhammer 40k games and then replay Soulstorm instead. With potentially over a year to wait for Dawn of War 4, that allows you time to save up for one of the best gaming monitors so you can watch the carnage unfold in stunning definition.

I'm desperate to chat with other Dawn of War sickos (complimentary), so join our community Discord server to break down every frame of the trailer with me and other staff and readers. Please.