Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV
Release date, trailer and everything we know.
- PC
Release date
3 December 2026
Delayed from 17 September 2026 to 3 December 2026. Commander Edition owners get 3 days of early access from 30 November.
The story so far
What we know about Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is a real-time strategy game from KING Art Games, published by Deep Silver, and the next entry in the long-running Dawn of War series. It was revealed at the Gamescom Opening Night Live show in August 2025 with a CGI trailer. The studio pitches it as a return to the series' strategy roots, with the focus on controlling the battlefield.
Players command four Warhammer 40,000 factions: Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and the Adeptus Mechanicus, who appear in the series for the first time. Each faction has its own campaign, and together they make up more than 70 missions that can be played solo or in co-op. The story is co-written by Black Library author John French and is set on the planet Kronus, roughly two centuries after the events of the previous game on Chronos. Press coverage also highlights an expanded Sync Kill system for detailed melee finishers.
Beyond the campaign, the game includes Last Stand, Skirmish against configurable AI, and multiplayer from 1v1 to 3v3, plus a Painter tool for customising factions. The release was pushed back from 17 September to 3 December 2026 to allow more polish, bug fixes and performance work after several community playtests. A Year One roadmap with Crusade Mode, more maps, a mission editor and two story expansions has been announced, and it is only confirmed for PC through Steam so far.
What to expect from Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV
Based on what the developer and publisher have shown so far.
- 01
Four factions, four campaigns
Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and the Adeptus Mechanicus each get their own campaign, which together tell one larger story across more than 70 missions, according to the publisher.
- 02
Co-op campaign
The campaign can be played solo or with a friend in co-op, and the Steam page lists online co-op and PvP support alongside single-player.
- 03
Familiar modes return
Last Stand and Skirmish against configurable AI are back, and multiplayer so far covers matches from 1v1 up to 3v3, with a Painter tool for customising faction looks.
- 04
Year One content
The roadmap so far includes Crusade Mode, additional maps, a mission editor and two story expansions, with the Blood Ravens as the focus of the first. Details were updated after the delay.
See it for yourself
Confirmed. Unconfirmed. Clear.
A quick way to separate official information from speculation.
Confirmed
- Release: 3 December 2026 on PCSteam
- Commander Edition gets 3 days of early access from 30 November 2026Steam
- Four playable factions, including the Adeptus MechanicusSteam
- 70+ campaign missions plus Last Stand, Skirmish and multiplayerSteam
- Delayed from 17 September to 3 December to add polish, bug fixes and performance workGematsu
- Story co-written by Black Library author John French, set on planet KronusThe Sixth Axis
Not confirmed
Console versions
Only PC is announced; no PS5 or Xbox release has been confirmed.
Demo
No public demo has been announced. Earlier playtests were closed and required an NDA.
Further delays
The date has already moved once, and no further changes have been announced.
System requirements
The Steam page still lists the minimum and recommended PC specs as coming soon.
Rumours are labelled and linked to their source.
Timeline
The road to release, from announcement to launch.
19 August 2025
Dawn of War IV is revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live with a CGI trailer and four factions. The Sixth Axis
12 December 2025
A second closed playtest begins, following an earlier closed alpha in November. The Sixth Axis
12 August 2026
Deep Silver and KING Art delay the game from 17 September to 3 December 2026 and share an updated Year One roadmap. Gematsu
30 November 2026
Commander Edition owners can start playing three days early. Steam
3 December 2026
Planned release on PC via Steam. Steam
Waiting for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV? Play these
Our best guesses until it is out, picked for the same kind of experience.
Company of Heroes 3
Squad-focused real-time strategy with cover, tactical positioning and a campaign built around controlling the battlefield.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Story-driven RTS campaign with distinct factions, set-piece missions and a competitive multiplayer scene.
Total War: Warhammer III
Another big Warhammer strategy game, with large armies and faction-driven campaigns, though turn-based on the map.
Age of Empires IV
Modern RTS with several asymmetric factions, historical campaigns and 1v1 to team multiplayer.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Shares the grim Warhammer 40,000 tone and co-op focus, but as a first-person action game rather than strategy.
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
A 4X strategy take on the same universe, with Space Marines, Orks and Necrons fighting over a planet.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people search for most.
When is Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV released?
It is scheduled for 3 December 2026 on PC. It was delayed from 17 September. Commander Edition owners can play from 30 November.
Which platforms is Dawn of War IV coming to?
Only PC through Steam is announced so far. No PS5, Xbox or Switch versions have been confirmed by Deep Silver or KING Art Games.
Is there a trailer for Dawn of War IV?
Yes. Deep Silver has published an official story trailer, which you can watch on this page, as well as earlier gameplay and release date trailers.
Is there a demo or playtest?
No public demo is announced. KING Art ran closed community playtests in 2025 and later, but those were invite-based and covered by an NDA.
How much does it cost and can I preorder?
Preorders are open on Steam. The Standard Edition was listed at 53.99 euro and the Commander Edition, with Year 1 expansions, at 80.99 euro, both with an early discount.
Is Dawn of War IV a sequel, and what is it about?
It is the fourth main game in the Dawn of War series. Set on the planet Kronus, its campaigns follow Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and the Adeptus Mechanicus.