THE 41ST MILLENNIUM / FIELD GUIDE
TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER
40,000
Know your factions.
Understand the war ahead.
A clear view of what’s confirmed, from launch factions to the galactic campaign. Follow the evidence. Prepare for what comes next.
OFFICIAL KEY ART SEGA / CREATIVE ASSEMBLY / GAMES WORKSHOP ↗QUICK ANSWER
What is Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000?
Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 is a strategy video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Its announced campaign combines turn-based galactic strategy with real-time ground battles. The launch announcement names Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Orks, Aeldari. This independent guide covers this game’s announcements; tabletop rules and other Total War games do not establish its unit stats or mechanics.
Official evidence: Creative Assembly / SEGA · Warhammer Community. Checked . Scope and individual records appear below.
NEW TO TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER 40,000?
Start with these three questions.
- How does it play? Understand the turn-based campaign and real-time battles, then choose an official gameplay replay.
- How does the campaign map work? Learn the announced planets, fleets and warfare scales, including the dated answer on space battles.
- Which faction should I explore first? Match your interests to the announced identities, with launch and beta availability kept separate.
Check release timing, platforms and PC requirements before planning a purchase. For playable test access, use the beta briefing. This guide explains announcements and development previews; it does not substitute tabletop rules or another game's walkthrough for this game's mechanics.
Is Warhammer III set in the same universe as Warhammer 40,000?
The games use different settings: Warhammer III is part of the fantasy Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy; this new game uses the science-fantasy Warhammer 40,000 setting. It is a separate game, rather than Warhammer III in a later era or a campaign add-on.
Warhammer III belongs to the fantasy Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy; Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 is a separate game set in the science-fantasy Warhammer 40,000 universe. Their official descriptions identify different settings; one is not a later campaign for the other. Creative Assembly / SEGA ↗ · Creative Assembly / SEGA ↗ · Creative Assembly ↗
Already looking at two 40K strategy games? The Dawn of War IV comparison explains their announced gameplay differences.
PLAYING WITH FRIENDS
Online battles.
Co-op questions.
Check Steam PvP, the PS5 online-player listing and what remains unconfirmed about campaign co-op and crossplay.
Check multiplayer status →TWO GAMES, ONE SETTING
Dawn of War IV
or Total War 40K?
Compare the announced strategy layers, bases, campaigns and official online listings.
Understand the differences →FACTION DOSSIER / 01
Space Marines
Armour. Precision. Resolve.
CLOSED BETATwo opening single-player campaigns, plus multiplayer and custom battles.
Open faction dossierFACTION DOSSIER / 02
Astra Militarum
Strength in numbers.
CLOSED BETAListed for multiplayer and custom battles. The announced beta campaigns are Space Marines only.
Open faction dossierFACTION DOSSIER / 03
Orks
A war without restraint.
CLOSED BETAListed for multiplayer and custom battles. This is a test-scope confirmation, not a complete launch roster.
Open faction dossierFACTION DOSSIER / 04
Aeldari
Precision from the shadows.
CLOSED BETAAnnounced for launch, but explicitly excluded from the closed beta.
Open faction dossierWATCH / OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT PREVIEWS
See the game in action.
Choose the Ranged Combat Alpha Strike for a battle playthrough, the Gamescom Edition for campaign and limited customisation, or a short showcase for a quick look. Each entry includes its date and development scope.
Official gameplay & trailers ↗01 / CHOOSE YOUR ALLEGIANCE
4 factions. One galaxy.
Space Marines
Armour. Precision. Resolve.
Astra Militarum
Strength in numbers.
Orks
A war without restraint.
Aeldari
Precision from the shadows.
4 factions are in the sourced launch announcement. Beta availability is a separate historical scope. View the announcement ↗
02 / THE STRATEGIC PICTURE
A war fought
across worlds.
Planets, fleets and ground battles.
Understand the announced campaign structure.
03 / MAKE IT YOURS
Your army.
Your identity.
Colours, heraldry and custom forces: what has been announced so far.
Explore customisation →04 / AT A GLANCE
The essentials, confirmed.
The announced release window is 2027. SEGA lists a planned release year, not a specific day or month. SEGA ↗ · SEGA ↗ · Creative Assembly ↗
Release date, platforms and Steam status →
The announced platforms are PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. SEGA ↗ · SEGA ↗
The galactic campaign combines turn-based expansion, planet capture, fleet upgrades and a war economy with real-time ground battles. Creative Assembly / SEGA ↗
- Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — Steam store Creative Assembly / SEGA
- Total War: WARHAMMER III — Steam store Creative Assembly / SEGA
- Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — announcement and FAQ Creative Assembly
- Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — SEGA Japan product page SEGA
- TGS 2026 game introduction trailer — September announcement SEGA
- This Week in Total War — 28 August 2026 Creative Assembly
- Announcing Total War: Warhammer 40,000! Warhammer Community
- Closed Beta Eligibility Survey — 18 September The Total War Team on Steam
- Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — official Steam announcements The Total War Team on Steam
- Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — CA news archive Creative Assembly
Latest claim verification: · Scope: Public announcements · October 2026; Official product listings and Gamescom preview — comparison references checked October 2026; Pre-release announcements · September 2026; Release announcements · August–September 2026. Each claim may have its own verification date.