The first faction CGI trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV has just dropped, and it’s titled “ORKS UNLEASHED.” If you’ve been waiting for a return to the series’ roots, this is the moment.
What We Know So Far:
The Return of Gorgutz: The legendary Warboss Gorgutz ‘Ead ‘Unter is back to lead the Bad Moons in a surprise assault on a Blood Raven vessel.
Back to Kronus: The conflict returns to the fan-favourite world of Dark Crusade, set 200 years after the original campaign.
Classic RTS Gameplay: Forget the MOBA leanings of the past—King Art Games is bringing back proper base building, resource management, and a 300-unit population cap.
Brutal Sync Kills: The trailer showcases an expanded Sync Kill system with over 10,000 unique combat animations. Seeing a Deff Dread body-slam a Dreadnought? Yes, please.
Game Features:
Four Playable Factions: Space Marines (Blood Ravens & Dark Angels), Orks, Necrons, and the debut of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Massive Campaign: 70+ missions written by Black Library legend John French.
Fan-Favourites Return: Last Stand mode, Skirmish, and the Army Painter are all confirmed.
The galaxy is screaming, and the Orks are louder than ever.
For years, the grim darkness of the far future has been silent for RTS fans, but the wait is finally over! Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is officially coming, and it looks set to be the true return to form the community has been crying out for. From its new developer to a focus on classic base-building, here is a breakdown of what you need to know about the next chapter in the iconic strategy series!
Release Window & New Command
Mark your calendars! Dawn of War IV is slated for a 2026 release on PC. Perhaps the biggest news is the change of hands for development. Instead of series veterans Relic Entertainment, the game is being crafted by King Art Games, the German studio behind the well-received alternate-history RTS, Iron Harvest.
This new team has openly stated their intent is to return the series to the glory days of the original Dawn of War and its expansions, focusing on deep strategy and large-scale warfare—a stark contrast to the more MOBA-like elements of the third installment.
A Return to Kronus and Non-Linear Campaigns
Veteran fans of Dark Crusade will recognize the setting! Dawn of War IV brings the war back to the beleaguered planet of Kronus, approximately 200 years after the events of that classic expansion.
One of the most exciting announcements is the sheer scale of the single-player content:
Four Playable Faction Campaigns: The game launches with four distinct factions, each receiving its own full, dedicated campaign.
70+ Missions Total: Co-written by Black Library author John French, the campaigns are non-linear, with player choices dictating which missions you tackle. This means a single playthrough won’t see all content, promising huge replayability.
Returning Characters: Fan favorites like the Ork Warboss Gorgutz ‘Eadsmasha and the Blood Ravens’ Librarian Jonah Orion are confirmed to be back in the thick of it!
The Factions: A Debut and a Primarch
At launch, four distinct factions will be playable, each with a unique playstyle:
Space Marines (Blood Ravens & Dark Angels): The main Imperial faction, now split into two sub-factions. The Blood Ravens are engaged in tactical, stealth-based conflicts, while the newly introduced Dark Angels emphasize large-scale, all-out warfare.
Orks: The green tide returns with their chaotic WAAAGH! energy and brutal melee focus.
Necrons: The skeletal, self-repairing legions are back, likely focused on slow, terrifying resource gain and unit preservation.
Adeptus Mechanicus (Series Debut!): The followers of the Omnissiah make their first playable appearance in the Dawn of War series! Expect highly specialized tech, powerful machinery, and a unique focus on resource hoarding.
The Biggest Surprise: Lion El’Jonson
In a move that sends massive ripples through the 40K lore, the Primarch of the Dark Angels, Lion El’Jonson, is not just making a cameo—he will be a playable unit in the campaign’s climactic finale! This is a massive first for a Warhammer 40,000 video game and signals the epic scale King Art is aiming for.
Classic RTS Mechanics Are Back
For many, the defining feature of the original Dawn of War was base-building and massive army clashes. King Art is doubling down on this:
Base-Building Returns: Expect to be setting up requisition points, power nodes, and defensive structures to manage your economy and grow your fighting force.
The Combat Director: An expanded and modernized version of the ‘Sync-Kill’ system from the first game, this aims to make melee combat visually brutal and satisfying, with individual units locking into cinematic duels.
Replayability Modes: Alongside the campaigns, fan-favorite modes like Skirmish (against AI), competitive Multiplayer (1v1, 2v2, 3v3), and the beloved co-op survival mode The Last Stand are all confirmed.
Dawn of War IV is more than just a sequel; it appears to be a conscious effort to restore the series’ legacy, merging the strategic depth of classic RTS titles with the brutal, cinematic flair of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The return to base-building, a huge multi-faction campaign, and the inclusion of a Primarch has us hyped for 2026.
For the Emperor!
What faction are you most excited to command on Kronus? Let me know in the comments below!
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV – https://dawnofwar4.com
The Emperor’s light shines on Real-Time Strategy fans! After years of anticipation, the long-awaited sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, has been officially announced, and the new “Back to War” in-engine trailer has the community buzzing like a Hive City under siege.
Developed by King Art Games (known for Iron Harvest) and published by Deep Silver, Dawn of War IV is promising a monumental return to the series’ roots, specifically channelling the large-scale base-building and grand campaigns that made the original Dawn of War a legendary RTS title.
Here is your bolter-sized breakdown of the key announcements from the “Back to War” reveal:
1. A Gritty Return to Kronus
The new trailer confirms that the action returns to the familiar, blood-soaked grounds of Kronus, the setting of the fan-favourite expansion Dawn of War: Dark Crusade. The story is set many years after the initial conflict, as the Blood Ravens Space Marines and their new allies, the Adeptus Mechanicus, clash with brutal Ork hordes.
This familiar setting, along with the promise of more traditional RTS mechanics, is a clear signal that the developers are focused on appeasing the long-time fans who desired a return to the series’ origins following the divisive third instalment.
2. Classic RTS Mechanics are Back!
The most exciting news for veterans of the series is the confirmation of core mechanics:
Base Building Returns: Yes, you read that right. The ability to construct and fortify your base of operations is a central feature again, moving away from the more squad-focused approach of Dawn of War II and III.
Massive Scale Combat: Prepare your armies! The new in-engine trailer showcased vast battles, a welcome change promising the kind of grand strategic warfare the 41st millennium deserves.
Expanded Sync Kill System: The brutal, cinematic close-combat animations, a hallmark of the original games, are back and promised to be “expanded,” ensuring every glorious melee victory is felt with satisfying, visceral detail.
3. New and Returning Factions
The initial launch of Dawn of War IV is confirmed to feature four playable factions, each with its own unique campaign, commanders, and unit roster:
Space Marines (Blood Ravens Chapter): The returning heroes, determined to eliminate all threats to the Imperium.
Orks: The brutal, green tide is back, ready for a good scrap!
Necrons: The ancient, terrifying mechanical legions make a return as a formidable new threat on Kronus.
Adeptus Mechanicus: Making their highly anticipated Dawn of War debut, the priests of Mars bring their unique blend of technological dogma and powerful combat constructs to the battlefield.
4. An Epic Scope
The single-player experience is shaping up to be massive, with the campaign spanning multiple non-linear arcs written by renowned Black Library author John French.
70+ Campaign Missions: A truly staggering number, suggesting an epic, hours-long experience for each faction.
Fan-Favourite Modes: Alongside the campaign, the popular co-op survival mode, The Last Stand and traditional Skirmish modes are confirmed to be making a comeback.
Multiplayer Mayhem: Expect 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 competitive multiplayer battles on a multitude of maps.
5. When Can We Play?
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is scheduled for release in 2026, exclusively on PC via Steam. While that may feel like a long wait, the sheer scale and promised return to the franchise’s best qualities have made the wait agonizingly exciting.
The “Back to War” trailer isn’t just a teaser—it’s a declaration. It confirms that the developers are keenly aware of what made the original Dawn of War a classic, and they are committed to delivering the ultimate 40K RTS experience. Get ready to build your bases, marshal your armies, and bathe the planet Kronus in the blood of heretics and xenos once more!
Whose banner will rise from the flames of Kronus? Let us know which faction you’ll be playing first in the comments below!
