It has been a decade since the pioneering edition of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War was released back in 2004, followed by numerous expansions and a sequel Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II in 2009. While the game was able to enthral players with its stunning visuals and strategic gameplay style, a third edition of the game was long overdue and it was being said that the same was in development back in 2011.
Now, developers Relic Entertainment and publishers Sega have officially announced the much anticipated game with an announcement trailer.
Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III:
It will be released sometime in 2017: Although everyone would be expecting the game to be released this year (given the wait), it seems to have a scheduled release for next year.
The gameplay will intersperse the style of its former editions: The first press release from Sega/Relic mentioned, “the epic scale of Dawn of War” combined with “the customisation and elite heroes of Dawn of War II.” The first part of the game was heavily reliant on building bases and capturing strategic points for victory, while the later version had bestowed players with perks of customisation and control of epic heroes. The third edition is likely to mingle both the styles and create something absolutely different. While the overall map is still likely to be controlled by power generators, this version will feature colossal units with special abilities bringing in the essence of the second edition.
Also, the ‘cover’ feature is returning which hints at heavy defence from ranged attacks but easier to clear out with assaults.
Races/Tribes: The game will be focused on three major races, namely the Space Marines, Orks and the Eldar. The campaign mode will not be played through one of the races, rather it will cover all the three with narrative transitions, as their website says, “This universe has no heroes or villains. Through alternating missions you’ll soon learn the combat advantages of Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar.”
Multiplayer: It goes without saying that an RTS game of this calibre will feature multiplayer modes, there is already a co-op mode mentioned on their Steam page. It would be interesting to see what other (if) multiplayer components are added to the game and if they can break into the competitive scene.
To conclude, from the looks of the trailer, the game looks pretty surreal. With three races and battling super-giants, it looks like a lot to look forward to. Also, going by the surroundings of its previous editions, the game will mostly have an amazing setting as their Steam page also mentions, “Wage war with massive armies across violent volcanic terrain or onboard battle cruisers travelling fast through space.”
Guess we have to wait for 2017 to try it out for ourselves, but we will keep you updated as more news comes out from the makers.
