At the PC Gaming Show’s Tokyo Direct event, KING Art and Deep Silver unveiled a visually stunning in-engine preview for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, alongside insights into the title’s creative direction. Initially revealed during Gamescom 2025 with a planned 2026 PC release (Steam page available here), the project aims to channel the spirit of the franchise’s debut installment. In a developer interview, Creative Director Jan Theysen emphasized prioritizing core elements from the original game.

Our primary focus was deciding the vision. Should we blend elements from earlier titles or forge a fresh path? Ultimately, we chose to anchor ourselves to Dawn of War 1 as our foundation. We gathered feedback on what defined that experience, and synchronized combat animations stood out universally. These became a priority—not just reprising them, but elevating their impact with modern tech. When revisiting a classic, the goal isn’t replication—it’s rekindling the excitement players felt decades ago, reimagined for today’s standards.

Selecting factions posed a challenge, given the universe’s depth. The Blood Ravens and Orks were non-negotiable—they’re iconic to the series. For newcomers, we added the Nekrons, a faction long-anticipated since Dawn of War 3’s development. The Adeptus Mechanicus also joins, marking their franchise debut. Their inclusion offers fresh lore opportunities while honoring 40K’s expansive world.

Relic Entertainment, creators of the first three entries, transitioned to independence in March 2024 following their split from SEGA. Their current project, Earth vs Mars, a turn-based strategy title, launched in early 2025. KING Art, meanwhile, last delivered 2020’s RTS Iron Harvest, which earned an 8/10 in Wccftech’s review for its blend of tactical depth and diesel-punk aesthetics.