Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War reshaped the real-time strategy genre when it launched in 2004. With multiple expansions, it was poised to be one of the best series in the genre. The brutal, larger-than-life spectacle of Warhammer 40K was exemplified in Dawn of War, and Relic Entertainment had so much momentum after expansions like Dark Crusade and Soulstorm. But something went wrong, as Relic took a turn and experimented with both Dawn of War 3. Unfortunately, these changes did not stick and ultimately led to the series’ end — that is, until now.
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Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 was officially revealed at Gamescom with developer King Art Games, known for Iron Harvest, at the helm. Initially, receptions were mixed, and many fans feared the new developers would take the wrong aspects of the series when developing the series’ revival. However, a recent interview with Jan Theysen (via IGN), one of the co-founders, shed some light on Dawn of War 4 and shows a promising future.
Dawn of War 4 Goes Back to Base Building and Big Armies
One of the key features Theysen mentions is the pivot back to Dawn of War’s key pillars of base building and large armies. King Art Games is embracing the best aspects of Dawn of War while aiming to modernize them: base building, research, upgrades, and large-scale army management are what made the first game the best, and what the sequels missed.
It’s not about simply copying these mechanics for Dawn of War 4. Instead, King Art Games is translating the sense of escalation and battlefield presence that the first game delivered and reviving this epic scale. Players will no longer micromanage small squads but command massive armies to capture strategic points and defeat their foes. Dawn of War 4 is not only poised to return the series to its roots, but also do the Warhammer 40,000 universe justice.
Bringing back base building and big armies isn’t enough to guarantee Dawn of War 4’s success. These need to be implemented properly. By focusing on Dawn of War rather than its sequels, the studio is showing that they’re aware of what fans want. The devs did speak about base building at length, not only addressing its return, but trying to capture a scale that would do justice to the Warhammer 40K universe.
Campaigns for Every Faction, Not Just the Space Marines
While the return of base building and large armies is promising, the four factions of Dawn of War 4 is concerning. However, one thing to consider is that even Dawn of War launched with four factions and didn’t receive more until DLCs were released. But the absence of Chaos and Eldar seems odd considering how iconic these factions are to not just the series, but Warhammer 40K as a whole. Fortunately, Theysen has teased the possibility of DLC, hinting at Chaos being added later on.
King Art Games is leaning into its narrative background and is launching Dawn of War 4 with a campaign for each faction. Whereas previous Dawn of War games focused on the Space Marines, specifically the Blood Ravens, the return to the series gives each faction a spotlight. What’s more, the studio has chosen to include the Adeptus Mechanicus, a faction that has grown in popularity and is now debuting in Dawn of War.
It remains to be seen if Dawn of War can be properly revived. The campaign is a major part of why the first game is so beloved. This time around, there will be 70+ missions across the four different campaigns. Offering different objectives and diversifying these missions is crucial to whether or not Dawn of War 4’s campaign is successful.
Returning to Kronus With a New Narrative Twist
Narratively, King Art Games is all in on its inspiration for Dawn of War 4. Kronus was the planet used in the Dark Crusade DLC, and players are returning to its surface once more. This provides a familiar backdrop and feels like a true homecoming for old fans. It also allows for a blend of nostalgia and new storytelling for the Blood Ravens and Necrons. That said, King Art Games is not afraid to deviate from the original lore of Dawn of War and has made the deliberate decision not to include Gabriel Angelos.
This allows for a new narrative to have breathing room and removes the awkward need to balance Angelos’ power level. Fans did get to see Cyrus, a Space Marine Scout Sergeant of the Blood Ravens, during the cinematic reveal trailer. So, while Dawn of War 4 won’t focus on hero units like Dawn of War 2 and Dawn of War 3, they will appear in some regard.
Returning to Kronus is certainly an interesting choice. The Space Marines were effectively victorious at the end of Dark Crusade, but the Necrons are nothing if not resilient and determined. The true twist will be the inclusion of the Adeptus Mechanicus. They are often seen as the rivals of Necrons and may play an important role in Dawn of War 4.
Dawn of War 4 looks to be a genuine attempt to return the series to greatness. Some may consider King Art Games trying to cash in on the series’ name, but by grounding itself in the first game, the studio has shown its goodwill. However, it is not just remaking Dawn of War. It acknowledges the series’ past without being shackled to it through innovations and new ideas, like adding the Adeptus Mechanicus.
The RTS genre has grown smaller and become more niche, so King Art Games is taking a risk. But if it is successful with Dawn of War 4, it can not only revive one of the genre’s best games, but also win back veteran fans who gave up on the series. This feels like a chance at redemption, and perhaps a long-overdue return to form.
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