Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV first in-engine trailer revealed and fans are already asking for one thing

A new in-engine trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV has been revealed during the PC Gaming Show: Tokyo Direct. According to publisher Deep Silver and developer King Art Games, the title marks a return to classic RTS roots and revisits the war-torn planet Kronus years after the events of Dark Crusade.

The story is claimed to be co-written by Black Library author John French and follows the Blood Ravens Space Marines and their Adeptus Mechanicus allies clashing with Ork forces, before an ancient Necron threat emerges. At launch, four factions are planned: Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and the Adeptus Mechanicus making their Dawn of War debut. Each is said to feature unique Commanders, buildings, units and mechanics.

The developers state that Dawn of War IV will include the largest campaign in series history, with more than 70 missions across dedicated storylines for every faction. CGI intros and animated cutscenes are also promised, with campaigns playable in solo or co-op.

Gameplay is described as focusing on base building, large-scale strategy, and a revamped Sync Kill system for more cinematic melee combat. Additional modes include configurable Skirmishes, 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 multiplayer, as well as the returning Last Stand co-op mode. Players will also be able to customise their armies with a Painter tool or use existing Warhammer 40,000 factions.

Here’s what fans are saying: one of the most upvoted YouTube comments asked the developers to “bring back the metallic ‘vox’ texture for the Space Marine voices,” while another also noted that the game “looks great so far,” but the Space Marine and Necron voice lines could use more impact. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is now available to wishlist on Steam ahead of its 2026 launch.