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Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is officially on the way, and we've made sure to gather every bit of information that is currently out in the wild about it. That's right: the strategy series is grabbing a boltgun and wading into the grim darkness of the far future – where there is, of course, only war. Whether you're a strategy fan or 40K devotee, there's a staggering amount to be excited by here.
Creative Assembly has already created some of the best strategy games using Games Workshop's Old World setting, and now it's using lessons learned from the Total War: Warhammer trilogy to create the series' first sci-fi game. In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about the upcoming title. From trailer insights to our interviews with the game's devs, we've left no galactic stone unturned.
With the vastness of Games Workshop's 40K setting on offer, it's possible we'll have one of the best Total War games on our hands if Creative Assembly can pull this off. But first, let's take stock of what we already have. Read on for a complete overview of Total War: Warhammer 40,000!
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 release date speculation
A release date for Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is yet to be revealed, as its trailer at The Game Awards made no mention of when it will launch. However, it's possible we could be playing this as early as late 2026.
Barring the recent reveal of Total War: Medieval 3, Creative Assembly has traditionally revealed games on the closer end to launch, but given the scope of 40K and the studio's shift to being more transparent, it's possible we could be waiting a little longer for this one.
Speaking to GamesRadar+, lead narrative designer and writer Andy Hall says the 40K team is "at the stage of the project where we're starting to bring in the VO, and we're polishing our assets," which – fingers crossed – means we might not have to wait too much longer to see more. Ultimately, only Creative Assembly knows what its schedule looks like – which is all to say we're right there alongside you in waiting for more news.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 platforms
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 will be coming to PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5.
That's a first for Total War, which has always made its home on PC, and has been made possible through the Warcore engine – which, as a bonus, will also be better-optimized for lower-spec PC builds thanks to its console optimization.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 trailer
Good news! Total War: Warhammer 40,000 has its first trailer, and as is often the case with 40K trailers, it's a banger. You can check it out above!
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 gameplay
While an extensive look at gameplay is yet to be shared, we already know some of how Total War: Warhammer 40,000 will play. For instance, we know the game will launch with four playable factions: Space Marines, Orcs, Aeldari, and Astra Militarum.
For those coming in with no knowledge of 40K, Space Marines are genetically-engineered humans who serve as the Imperium's elite super-soldiers, while the Astra Militarum is where the Imperium's regular soldiers and majority of vehicle battalions fight. Meanwhile, the warlike Orcs are all about numbers and brawn, while the Aeldari – remnants of a once-proud empire of elves – are fewer in number yet boast some of the galaxy's best fighters.
As with past Total War games, players will manage territory and move armies in a turn-based campaign map, while combat involves ordering your troops in real-time on the battlefield. The formula has resulted in some of the best PC games going, but will vary slightly in that players will also be able to customize their units – right down to Space Marines' fingers – in the styling of 40K's tabletop models. However, the formula is also going to take some inspiration from the original tabletop game as well.
In our Big in 2026 Total War: Warhammer 40,000 preview, we learnt that individual characters in units can be equipped uniquely. The ranged and melee structuring is still in place, but changes have been made to make the experience in battle feel more dynamic and hybrid.
"Like you'd expect in the tabletop game, a unit of your warriors isn't just made up of one unit type. It's not the same person: they've got different specialists, different weapon styles," Simon Mann (product owner – campaign design) explains, pointing to Space Marines as an example. "If you play the tabletop, a sergeant with an intercessor squad is armed with a chainsword and bolt pistol. They're good in both melee and ranged."
There will also be more in-depth destruction thanks to Creative Assembly's new Warcore engine, while more ranged-specific features – think unit strafing and being able to take cover – have also been implemented.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 setting
As the name suggests, the upcoming strategy game will be set in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe. For newcomers, it's not the nicest of neighborhoods. Set in the distant future, humanity has settled across the stars under one banner – the fascist Imperium of Man, a vast war machine which worships its Emperor as a godlike being.
A number of sentient civilizations fight over the galaxy, from the Necron dynasty of androids to all-consuming Tyranid hordes. Yet the Imperium's biggest foe is typically Chaos – worshippers under the banner of four powerful gods, who fight to destroy the Empire of Man. All said, it's not the safest place to visit – but if you would like to learn more, the Lexicanum is a wonderful resource for dipping your toes in.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 story
Total War: Warhammer 40K will feature a canon contribution to Games Workshop's 40K universe, according to Andy Hall, although exact plot details are yet to be shared. However, from our interview, we do know that much of the game's narrative will be told through crusades, which appear to be a type of campaign or sub-campaign that impacts an overarching narrative. This will involve all four factions, though it remains to be seen what they'll all be fighting over.
Can you pre-order Total War: Warhammer 40,000?
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 cannot currently be pre-ordered, but expect to see this option surface either when we have a release date or closer to launch. As with everything else we've covered, we'll update this the moment we know more. Keep checking back here for more updates, and it may also be worth keeping an eye on our new games list to see the most exciting games launching in 2026 and beyond.
For more future releases, check out our lists of all the upcoming PC games and upcoming PS5 games on the way.
