Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is an upcoming real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by KING Art Games (the studio behind Iron Harvest) and published by Deep Silver. Announced in August 2025 at Gamescom, it represents a massive, highly anticipated resurrection for the legendary franchise.

Following the disastrous critical and commercial reception of Dawn of War III in 2017—which attempted to awkwardly blend traditional RTS base-building with MOBA mechanics—Sega and Relic Entertainment essentially abandoned the IP. Now, under the guidance of Deep Silver, KING Art Games is stepping in to return the franchise to its roots, heavily drawing inspiration from the massive, drawn-out battles of the original 2004 masterpiece.

The Narrative: Return to Kronus

The campaign directly targets the nostalgia of long-time fans by returning to Kronus, the legendary battleground from the beloved Dark Crusade expansion.

The story is set 200 years after the events of the original game. Written by Black Library author John French, the narrative follows returning veteran characters Cyrus and the psyker Jonah Orion. As they attempt to rebuild their shattered Blood Ravens chapter, a new expedition inadvertently breaches a dormant Necron Tomb on the planet, awakening an ancient threat and plunging Kronus into a massive, four-way planetary war once again.

Gameplay and Mechanical Overhauls

KING Art Games is actively abandoning the “hero-centric” MOBA design of the third game, pulling the camera back to focus on macro-strategy, massive armies, and brutal frontline combat.

Key gameplay mechanics and returning features include:

• The Return of Cover: A major point of contention in DoW III was the removal of directional cover. Dawn of War IV brings back a robust, physical cover system, allowing players to garrison buildings and position infantry behind barricades to survive longer in firefights.
• Sync Kills and the Combat Director: The visceral, heavily animated melee combat that defined the original game is back. KING Art has introduced a new “Combat Director” system that dynamically synchronizes the brutal melee kill animations between opposing units on the frontline.
• Unit Veterancy: Surviving squads will gain experience on the battlefield, growing in power and unlocking new combat potential the longer you keep them alive.
• Stratagems: By accumulating resources, players can call down massive, game-changing global abilities, such as devastating orbital bombardments.
• The Last Stand: The beloved, highly requested PvE survival mode from Dawn of War II makes its triumphant return, though the developers have explicitly stated it has been redesigned to feel less like a MOBA.

The Factions

At launch, the game promises four mechanically distinct, highly requested factions:

• The Space Marines: The iconic defenders of humanity. The campaign will feature the classic Blood Ravens, but will also include the legendary Dark Angels as a fully playable sub-faction.
• The Orks: The brutal, battle-hungry green tide. They rely on overwhelming numbers, aggressive melee charges, and sheer, chaotic momentum to crush enemy lines.
• The Necrons: Picking up the narrative thread teased at the very end of Dawn of War III, the ancient, deathless metallic skeletons rise from their 60-million-year slumber to reclaim Kronus.
• The Adeptus Mechanicus: The most massive addition to the roster. Making their Dawn of War debut, the tech-priests of Mars are a highly advanced, ranged-focused faction. They utilize massive defensive “Void Shields” to create chokepoints and link their structures via the “Noosphere Network” to unlock powerful technological upgrades.

Development and Status

Currently slated for a 2026 release, Dawn of War IV is promising to be the exact game that hardcore fans have been begging for over the last decade. By handing the reins to KING Art Games—who already proved they masterfully understand cover-based, Company of Heroes-style tactics with Iron Harvest—Deep Silver is aiming to definitively wash away the bitter taste of the third installment.

With multiple closed alpha playtests already underway in early 2026, the game is shaping up to be a massive, nostalgic return to the grim darkness of the 41st millennium.

Key Features:

• A Return to Form — Ditch the MOBA mechanics of the previous entry and embrace the massive, base-building, macro-heavy RTS warfare of the 2004 original.
• Return to Kronus — Revisit the legendary setting of Dark Crusade, following returning heroes Cyrus and Jonah Orion in a 70+ mission overarching narrative.
• The Adeptus Mechanicus — Command the Cult of the Machine God for the very first time in the franchise’s history, utilizing Void Shields and the Noosphere Network.
• Visceral Sync Kills — Watch the carnage unfold up close with the brand-new Combat Director, ensuring melee engagements are as brutal and cinematic as ever.
• Co-Op and Last Stand — Play the entire campaign cooperatively with a friend, or jump into the completely revamped, fan-favorite Last Stand survival mode.

Release Platforms:

• Microsoft Windows (PC) — 2026 (Exact launch date TBA)