King Art, the developer behind the upcoming Dawn of War IV, doesn’t view the newly announced Total War: Warhammer 40,000 as direct competition. In a recent interview with IGN, the studio shared that it expects Warhammer 40,000 fans to play both titles.
Two Very Different Warhammer 40k Games
The Warhammer 40,000 franchise is set to receive two major strategy releases in the near future, but they represent distinctly different takes on the universe. Dawn of War IV continues the classic real-time strategy approach that Relic Entertainment established before King Art took over development. Meanwhile, Total War: Warhammer 40,000 marks Creative Assembly’s first entry into the sci-fi setting after years of successful fantasy-based Total War: Warhammer games. For more context, GamerHeadlines has also covered Are “Freemium” games killing mobile gaming? Gaming News Mobile Gaming.
While both games will feature large-scale battles, their core gameplay loops differ. Total War blends turn-based empire management with real-time tactical clashes, while Dawn of War focuses on base building, resource control, and fast-paced RTS combat. That genre gap is exactly why King Art isn’t worried about splitting the player base. For more context, GamerHeadlines has also covered Why Indie Games will be the new battleground for Microsoft and Sony Gaming News EA.
Fans Will Play Both, According to King Art
During the IGN interview, the developer expressed confidence that the two games can coexist. The logic is simple: a player who enjoys the methodical, grand-strategy layers of Total War might also crave the tighter, micro-intensive action of a traditional RTS. Both experiences deliver the grimdark vibe that Warhammer 40k fans love, just through different mechanical lenses.
There’s also little direct overlap in the moment-to-moment experience. Dawn of War IV will likely emphasize the kind of cover systems, squad abilities, and hero units that defined earlier entries, while Total War: Warhammer 40,000 will lean into its signature unit formations, morale, and massive real-time battles embedded in a broader strategic layer.
GamerHeadlines Takeaway
This isn’t a case of two identical products fighting for the same audience. King Art’s perspective rings true: the Warhammer 40k community is large and hungry enough for multiple strategy titles, especially when they deliver fundamentally different kinds of play. Instead of cannibalizing each other, Dawn of War IV and Total War: Warhammer 40,000 could end up complementing one another, giving fans two distinct ways to wage war in the 41st millennium.
