The Emperor Demands War: Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Video Game Announced

The rumors are finally laid to rest! During a show-stopping segment at The Game Awards 2025, developer Creative Assembly and publisher Sega announced the next major entry in their acclaimed strategy franchise: Total War: Warhammer 40,000!

After years of fan speculation and the immense success of the Total War: Warhammer fantasy trilogy, the franchise is making the monumental leap from the Old World to the grim darkness of the far future. This is set to be the franchise’s most ambitious project yet, blending Total War’s signature strategic depth with the brutal, galactic scale of the 41st Millennium.

 Galactic Warfare and Orbital Bombardment

Moving from the confined continents of the Old World to an entire galaxy requires a massive shift in scope, and Creative Assembly has promised exactly that. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 will feature two major strategic layers:

1. Galactic Campaign Map: Players will wage war across a galactic sandbox, capturing planets, upgrading voidships, managing war economies, and expanding their empire turn-by-turn. The strategic choices here will determine which sectors of the Imperium (or beyond) survive.

2. Planetary Real-Time Battles: Total War’s colossal real-time battles will take place on the surface of war-torn planets. Battles will feature iconic units, towering war machines, and the unique ability to call down orbital bombardments from supporting fleets, effectively reshaping the battlefield with apocalyptic weaponry.

The developers confirmed that every impact, explosion, and laser fire will contribute to dynamic destruction, adding a new tactical layer to ground combat that makes terrain and cover a constantly shifting resource.

 Four Iconic Launch Factions

The initial reveal confirmed that the game will launch with four radically distinct playable factions, each offering a completely unique strategic and tactical playstyle that reflects their lore:

• Space Marines: Elite, genetically enhanced super-soldiers. Few in number but devastating in power, they rely on precision, discipline, and overwhelming force. The trailer featured the iconic Ultramarines Chapter.

• Orks: Brutish, countless hordes that live for war (the WAAAGH!). Their playstyle is expected to be aggressive, utilizing unpredictable, clanking war machines and massive mobs of infantry.

• Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard): Humanity’s largest fighting force. They are the bulwark of flesh and steel, relying on vast numbers, heavy tanks, overwhelming artillery, and iron discipline to grind down the enemy.

• Aeldari (Eldar): An ancient and fading alien race. They are swift, elusive, and psychically focused, striking with elegant weaponry and exploiting weakness before vanishing into the shadow of the Webway.

 Tabletop Customization for the Digital Age

One of the most exciting announcements for dedicated hobbyists is the level of customization. For the first time in a Total War game, players will have unparalleled freedom to forge an army that is truly their own.

Players will be able to:

• Personalize Warbands: Name their regiments, choose faction colors, and emblazon them with custom iconography.

• Modify Warriors: Tailor their faction’s combat philosophy with unique traits, abilities, and wargear—bringing the deep customizability of the tabletop experience to life.

Creative Assembly confirmed that the game will debut on their new Warcore Engine, which was built specifically to handle the demands of the 41st Millennium, including new vehicle physics and heightened destruction.

The grimdark future is officially ready for Total War.