What it is
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is an upcoming real-time strategy game from KING Art Games, returning the series to large armies, base-building and resource control. It is set on Kronus, the war-torn planet last seen in Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, and brings four distinct faction campaigns, online multiplayer and co-operative play. The standard PC release is now scheduled for Thursday, 3 December 2026. Commander Edition owners can begin on Monday, 30 November through its three-day early unlock.
- UK release
- 3 December 2026; Commander Edition early unlock from 30 November
- Platforms
- Windows PC via Steam
- Developer
- KING Art Games
- Publisher
- Deep Silver
- UK price
- £49.99 Standard Edition; £74.99 Commander Edition
- Genre
- Real-time strategy
- Launch factions
- Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus
- Modes
- Single-player, online PvP and online co-op
- Online mode
- Yes — online multiplayer and co-operative campaign and modes
Story and setting
Dawn of War IV takes place years after Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, with Kronus stranded on the wrong side of the Great Rift. Blood Ravens Captain Cyrus and Chief Librarian Jonah Orion return while seeking to rebuild their Chapter, only to find the planet contested by Orks, Necrons and the Adeptus Mechanicus. Warboss Gorgutz and Beastboss Guzcutta lead the Orks, while the Necrons awaken beneath the planet and the Adeptus Mechanicus investigate its buried secrets.
The launch story is split across four faction campaigns, each feeding into one wider narrative. The campaigns contain more than 70 missions, with mission choices and strategic decisions affecting the course of the war. The story was developed with Black Library author John French. The Space Marine campaign also introduces the Dark Angels as a second playable Chapter, alongside the Blood Ravens, rather than adding them as a fifth headline faction.
How it plays
This is a deliberate return to the classic Dawn of War formula. You build and upgrade bases, research technologies, manage resources, capture strategic points and expand your forces across battlefields ranging from deserts to mountain regions. Buildings unlock stronger units, while cover, garrisonable structures, on-field reinforcement and retreating give you ways to preserve experienced troops. More than 110 units and buildings are planned at launch, with many units offering weapon and upgrade choices.
Each faction has its own economy and battlefield identity. The Orks use Waaagh-powered aggression and cheap, rapidly expanding armies; the Necrons spread a Power Matrix from their Tomb Citadels; the Adeptus Mechanicus build a Noosphere Network and use Auger Vision to detect activity through the fog of war; and the Space Marines rely on flexible, heavily equipped forces. The Combat Director expands the original series’ sync-kill idea into personalised combat animations throughout every engagement, while buildings and scenery can be damaged and reduced to rubble.
Modes and online play
The campaign can be played alone or cooperatively, and the game also includes Skirmish, Last Stand and competitive multiplayer. The developers have confirmed Annihilation, Domination and Maelstrom objectives for online matchmaking. Annihilation requires the destruction of enemy headquarters, Domination is based on controlling strategic positions for Victory Points, and Maelstrom places changing objectives across the map. Recent Battlefield Reports have shown 1v1 Annihilation, 2v2 Domination and 2v2 cooperative Skirmish against AI.
Crusade is planned as a free post-launch mode rather than a confirmed launch feature. It uses a turn-based world map of Kronus, persistent commanders and units, and battles that play out as standard RTS missions. Other announced free updates include map packs, a mission editor and additional Last Stand and Crusade scenarios.
Platforms, editions and UK price
Dawn of War IV is confirmed for Windows PC through Steam. There is no announced PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo version. The published UK list prices are £49.99 for the Standard Edition and £74.99 for the Commander Edition, although pre-order discounts and retailer pricing can change. Pre-orders are available through Steam and selected digital PC retailers, including Fanatical.
The Standard Edition contains the base game. Commander Edition adds three-day early access, the Blood Ravens Story Prologue, the Aftermath campaign expansion with a new faction, the Year One content package and a digital soundtrack. The normal launch is 3 December 2026, while Commander Edition access begins on 30 November. No UK launch time has been announced, so a specific BST or GMT unlock time should not be assumed. The game is not currently announced for Game Pass or PlayStation Plus.
Trailers and what remains unknown
The reveal at Gamescom Opening Night Live on 19 August 2025 introduced Kronus, the four launch factions and the return to base-building RTS gameplay. The 28 September 2025 Back to War in-engine trailer showed large battles, destructible environments, weapon customisation, fortifications and the expanded Combat Director. A Story Trailer shown at PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted on 4 December 2025 established the Blood Ravens’ return, the Ork threat, the awakening Necrons and the Dark Angels’ intervention. The 20 December 2025 Sons of Caliban trailer then provided the first dedicated look at the Dark Angels in action.
The 21 May 2026 release-date and roadmap trailer originally announced a September launch, but the 12 August 2026 update moved the game to 3 December for further bug fixing, performance work and polish. September’s official Battlefield Reports, released on 8, 16 and 23 September, have focused on competitive and cooperative multiplayer. The game remains unreleased, so campaign quality, balance, server performance and the final PC requirements cannot yet be judged.
Not yet confirmed
- A PEGI rating has not yet been published in the official UK store materials checked.
- The exact UK release time in BST or GMT has not been announced.
- No PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo version has been confirmed.
- The game engine has not been officially named, so Unity should not be treated as confirmed.
- The maximum player count for campaign co-op and individual multiplayer modes has not been officially stated.
- The separate UK prices for the Blood Ravens Story Prologue and Aftermath DLC have not been announced.
- The identity of the new faction in the Aftermath expansion remains undisclosed.
- Game Pass and PlayStation Plus availability have not been announced.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV: your questions
When is Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV released in the UK?
The standard PC release is Thursday, 3 December 2026. Commander Edition owners receive a three-day early unlock beginning Monday, 30 November 2026.
Is Dawn of War IV coming to PS5 or Xbox?
No. The only confirmed platform is Windows PC through Steam. Console versions have not been announced.
Does Dawn of War IV have online multiplayer and co-op?
Yes. It includes online competitive multiplayer, cooperative Skirmish and other modes, plus campaigns that can be played solo or cooperatively.
How many factions are in Dawn of War IV?
Four headline factions are confirmed at launch: Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus. The campaign also includes the Dark Angels as a second playable Space Marine Chapter.
Is Dawn of War IV coming to Game Pass?
There is no confirmed Game Pass or PlayStation Plus release. At present, the announced launch version is a paid PC game sold through Steam.
