📰 Written By: Andy….
Dawn of War IV has been delayed from September 17 to December 3, 2026. And while I’m sure plenty of Warhammer fans will be reaching for the nearest bolter, I’m actually quite happy about it.
I’ll admit straight away, I’m a huge Warhammer fan.
I’ve spent years painting miniatures, playing Warhammer and generally getting far too invested in the grim darkness of the far future. So when Dawn of War IV was announced, this wasn’t just another RTS announcement that caught my attention.
I really, really want this game to be good.
Which is exactly why I’m not particularly bothered by the delay.
Let’s be honest, nobody likes a delay.
You’ve got the date in your calendar. You’ve watched the trailers. You’ve probably already decided which faction you’re going to play first. Then the developer comes along and says:
“Yeah… about that.”
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV has now been pushed back from September 17 to December 3, 2026, with the Commander Edition still giving players three days of early access from November 30. KING Art Games says the additional time will be used for performance optimisation, bug fixing, polishing and incorporating feedback from playtests.
And honestly?
Good.
I’d rather wait than play a mess.
As a Warhammer fan, I’ve seen enough games and projects over the years to know that rushing something because the release date is already written down rarely ends well.
And Dawn of War isn’t exactly a franchise where you can get away with everything being slightly wonky at launch.
This is an RTS.
Balance matters. Performance matters. Multiplayer matters. The AI needs to know what the hell it’s doing.
Units need to behave properly and, preferably, not spend half a battle walking into a wall while you’re screaming at them.
And Dawn of War IV is looking pretty ambitious.
The game launches with four factions, with the Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus all bringing their own approach to the battlefield. There’s also a campaign spanning more than 70 missions, alongside multiplayer, co-op, Skirmish and Last Stand.
That’s a lot of stuff to get right.
So if the developers are basically saying:
“We need a bit more time to make this better.”
I’m fine with that.
Especially when it’s Dawn of War.
Because this isn’t just another game for me. It’s a franchise that sits right in the middle of something I’ve loved for years.
I’d rather wait a few extra months and get the Dawn of War IV that Warhammer fans have been hoping for than get something rushed out the door because someone in a boardroom really liked the September release date.
But what faction am I playing?
Let’s get this out of the way now.
Dark Angels.
That’s not even a debate.
I’m a huge Warhammer fan, so when I found out the Dark Angels were actually going to be playable in Dawn of War IV, I’ll admit — that got my attention very quickly.
And yes, they are officially confirmed.
The Dark Angels are a playable Space Marine sub-faction, and during the Space Marine campaign you’ll get missions where you command both the Blood Ravens and the Dark Angels.
So I don’t have to sit here hoping they’ll eventually be added.
They’re in.
Happy days.
And then there’s Lion El’Jonson.
Yes.
The Lion himself is getting onto the battlefield.
He’s a playable Primarch in Dawn of War IV, which is a pretty big deal for the series.
As someone who’s a massive Warhammer fan, that’s probably one of the things I’m most excited about.
Give me the Dark Angels, their ridiculous amount of gothic armour, Terminators, giant robes that probably aren’t particularly practical for combat, and The Lion charging onto the battlefield, and I’m absolutely sold.
So while everyone else is arguing over which faction they’re going to start with, I already know where I’ll be heading.
The First Legion.
The Dark Angels.
For the Lion.
And that’s what I’m most interested in
For me, the biggest appeal of Dawn of War IV is that it looks like it’s going back to what made the original so bloody good.
Big armies.
Bases.
Huge battles.
Lots of things exploding.
And probably an Ork yelling something completely inappropriate while charging directly into gunfire.
I’m sold.
The game is returning to Kronus, the setting previously seen in Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, and is bringing four distinct factions into the fight. The Adeptus Mechanicus are also making their debut as a playable faction in the series.
There’s a lot here that could make Dawn of War IV the RTS comeback we’ve been waiting for.
December could actually be a good thing
There’s another thing worth considering.
September is already looking like a pretty busy month for games.
Moving Dawn of War IV into December gives it a little more room to breathe.
Of course, December isn’t exactly empty either. Everyone is fighting for attention during the Christmas period, and gamers only have so much money to throw at games.
But Dawn of War has something a lot of new games don’t.
People actually want it.
There are plenty of RTS fans who have been waiting a very long time for another proper Dawn of War.
And judging by what we’ve seen so far, Dawn of War IV is clearly trying to tap into that nostalgia while still doing something new.
So is the delay a problem?
At the moment?
No.
Obviously, that could change.
If December rolls around and the game launches in a terrible state, we’ll be having a very different conversation.
But right now, I’d much rather see KING Art Games take the extra time than release something unfinished because everyone decided September 17 looked good on a marketing calendar.
We’ve all played games that probably needed another six months.
We don’t need another one.
Especially not Dawn of War.
Just don’t delay it again
This is the bit where I’m going to put my foot down.
December 3.
That’s the date.
Put it in the calendar.
Circle it.
Tattoo it on your arm if you really want to.
But please, for the love of the Emperor, don’t come back in November and tell us it’s moving to 2027.
I’ve waited long enough.
As a huge Warhammer fan, I’m disappointed that I have to wait a little longer. But if those extra weeks give KING Art Games the time it needs to make Dawn of War IV the game it deserves to be, I’ll happily wait.
Because when this game finally arrives, I don’t want to be thinking:
“I wish they’d had more time.”
I want to be sat there with a coffee, launching an army across Kronus, wondering why I’ve just lost half my forces because I got distracted watching something explode.
And preferably commanding the Dark Angels while doing it.
My Take:
I’m disappointed that Dawn of War IV has been delayed.
But I’m far more disappointed by the idea of getting a rushed Dawn of War IV.
If those extra weeks mean better balance, better performance and a smoother launch, then I’m perfectly happy to wait.
Now we just need to get through the next few months without starting another war over which faction is best.
Although, obviously…
It’s the Dark Angels.
For the Lion.
And if anyone disagrees, we’ll settle it the traditional Warhammer way.
On the battlefield.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is now scheduled to launch on December 3, 2026, with the Commander Edition offering three-day early access from November 30.
Let us know your thoughts?
Contact us on our social media and don’t forget to listen to our podcast