Games Workshop Reveals New Warhammer 40k Video Game

[Steven Bogos]

Games Workshop Reveals New Warhammer 40k Video Game

The company that thinks it owns the term "Space Marine" is teaming up with a new developer to make a new Warhammer 40,000 turn-based strategy game.

Games Workshop has signed an agreement with developer Slitherine to produce a new turn-based strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Dawn of War II, the last strategy game to be set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, was a popular real-time strategy game that was fairly well received. Relic Games, who made the Dawn of War franchise was owned by the recently bankrupted THQ [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121680-Bankruptcy-Auction-Ends-THQ]. It was sold off to Sega in a bankruptcy auction, possibly ending their use of the Warhammer licence and explaining the new developer.

"This deal represents yet another testament to our continuous aim to reach new audiences, without losing sight of who we are and what we do best", said JD McNeil, Chairman of the Slitherine Group. "It's all about creating strategy games that are targeted to a particular audience and addressing a very specific need in the market. The Warhammer 40,000 setting is a perfect fit for the style of strategy games that we make and will be very popular with fantasy and science fiction fans alike. Joining forces with Games Workshop will allow us to bring an wonderfully deep and appropriate IP to the turn-based strategy genre."

No further details of the game have surfaced yet. Slitherine is the developer known for infamously difficult turn-based strategy games such as Panzer Corps. Development is said to be underway on "multiple platforms."

"Slitherine are clearly established and successful masters of their genre of games, and there are many fans of their work here at GW. It's a pleasure to work with such like minded individuals who share our passion for strategy games of all types," said Jon Gillard, Head of Licensing at Games Workshop.

Games Workshop recently claimed that the term "Space Marine" was its and its alone [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121956-Warhammer-Company-Makes-Space-Marine-Trademark-Claim], and have been actively trying to enforce the trademark.

Source: Matrix Games [http://www.matrixgames.com/news/1021/Slitherine.links.with.Games.Workshop.on.new.licensing.agreement]

Permalink

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Dammit, I wanted a Dark Heresy style RPG.

 

[ron1n]

I don't think the Warhammer 40k rights necessarily have any exclusivity because Sega already bought not only all of Relic's IP but also the Warhammer 40k related IP that Vigil was working on...Plus of course the deal to make the Totalwar Fantasy game.

To me this sounds like it will be some kind of toned down Mobile/IOS/PC release. Honestly, would rather see a squad based 40k game in the frame of XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

Also fun fact: Slitherine is the same developer that did the 'simulation software' for the Deadliest Warrior series haha

Seems like a weird developer choice given their penchant for historical based strategy.

 

[Dryk]

Coming this summer, Space Marine: Heretic Unknown

Edit: Dammit ninja'd


Not sure what kind of strategy game I'd want from this to be honest

 

[SweetWarmIce]

Wasn't there already a 40k turn-based game on the DS?

 

[ChupathingyX]

Wasn't there already a 40k turn-based game on the DS?

Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command, which was also available for PSP.

It wasn't well received and almost everyone has forgotten it even exists.

 

[Fasckira]

I would quite like to see another turn based 40k game, they were hugely entertaining and felt more like the actual tabletop game without the hassle of having to spend hundreds of quid buying the pieces!

 

[Monsterfurby]

Even though I'm not that much into Warhammer 40k, another TBS is always great to see. Color me interested.

 

[Albino Boo]

Small point, Slitherine is the publisher of Panzer Corps not the developer, the Lordz game studio developed the game. As for Panzer Corps being difficult, the AI is broken and does not use artillery properly so it is fairly easy to beat, even on the hardest level.

 

[Combustion Kevin]

so, what about thgey give the 40K table-top game the same treatment as they did Bloodbowl?

I'd play the shit out of that if it weren't for the costly miniatures, this would be awesome.

 

[bjj hero]

I love TBS. Any one else got a semi after reading this?

After xcom it looks like mainstream TBS games may have returned.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Dawn of War II, the last game to star be set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe,

Well, for one, I'm not entirely sure "last game to star be set in the" is proper grammar, and for two, the last game to be set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe was Relic's own Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine.

So uh, I dunno what's happening here.

 

[Nouw]

So that makes two upcoming turn-based strategy games set in the world of Warhammer 40,000. Looking forward to both of them.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Hmm... I don't really see the main 40k tabletop being converted into a game, that nets them too much in mini sales. Since Space Hulk is on the way and that looks kinda X-Comy, maybe we'll be getting another shot at epic or something like that. They tend to licence their less popular games for conversion to the vidya games since that shouldn't cut into mini sales and when it comes to the big 2 they give us games that are based around them but different enough to not encroach on the main tabletop game.

Personal hopes are either BFG or Epic. Never played Inquisitor or Necromunda (although I played it's forerunner, Confrontation) but I reckon those would be ripe for an X-Com style TBS.

 

[Leftnt Sharpe]

I love TBS. Any one else got a semi after reading this?

After xcom it looks like mainstream TBS games may have returned.

Apparently the new Space Hulk game has an Xcom influence. this can only be a good thing.

 

[aceman67]

With them trying to claim "Space Marine" as their own and no one else's, I'm going to give this a huge freaking pass until that issue is settled and they're rightfully slapped back into their place and made to feel stupid for such an idiotic claim.

 

[elvor0]

Hmm... I don't really see the main 40k tabletop being converted into a game, that nets them too much in mini sales. Since Space Hulk is on the way and that looks kinda X-Comy, maybe we'll be getting another shot at epic or something like that. They tend to licence their less popular games for conversion to the vidya games since that shouldn't cut into mini sales and when it comes to the big 2 they give us games that are based around them but different enough to not encroach on the main tabletop game.

Personal hopes are either BFG or Epic. Never played Inquisitor or Necromunda (although I played it's forerunner, Confrontation) but I reckon those would be ripe for an X-Com style TBS.

An XCOM style version of one of those games sounds pretty sweet, I was thinking maybe a turn based style of the vanilla game, but thinking about it that's just silly now that you mention it, of /course/ they'd never do that, not when they're charging £20 for a squad. But a Necromunda game would kick ass, plus I could hook the soundtrack up to The Lord Weird Slough Feg for happy fun times. I can certainly see Space Hulk being the most likely candidate given its more "40k" but is less known about and more ripe for a TBS.

 

[Steven Bogos]

Dawn of War II, the last game to star be set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe,

Well, for one, I'm not entirely sure "last game to star be set in the" is proper grammar, and for two, the last game to be set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe was Relic's own Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine.

So uh, I dunno what's happening here.

I did not know that! Thanks for pointing it out to me. I've altered it to 'last strategy game to be set in...'

 

[bkd69]

I loved Squad Command, except for the fact that they were shoehorning a game genre better suited for mouse-n-keyboard onto a portable console UI. I also recall hearing some mention of a minor lack of fidelity to the tabletop rules, but I'm not that much of a WH grognard to care.

I can see GW licensing a full version of WH and WH40K for tablets, where a developer can do F2P, and in app unit and equipment purchases.

Damn. I've said it, now it will happen.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Sounds like a good idea, especially for the WiiU: it needs some more dark titles and that touchscreen was made for strategy games.

Still, I think Sega could've helped produce a good one. They helped make Valkyria Chronicles, which is still the most interesting turn based strategy game in a long time. And yes I played the new XCom, which is also very good but wasn't exactly revolutionary.