Over the previous few years I’ve wildly oscillated between “The RTS is coming back” and “The RTS is screwed“, and as we speak I am leaning in the direction of the previous. That is as a result of we’re getting a brand new Daybreak of Warfare coming in 2026, and reasonably than making an attempt to shake issues up, it is returning to its roots.
The Blood Ravens have returned to Kronus, 200 years after the occasions of Daybreak of Warfare enlargement The Darkish Campaign. However they are not the one ones on this depressing planet. They will be joined by the Adeptus Mechanicus, orks and necrons—every with their very own bespoke marketing campaign.
Dawn of War 4 is very much channelling the original game, with a focus on building up large bases and then throwing large armies at your enemies. The four singleplayer campaigns are the headline attraction, but naturally they aren’t the only game mode. Expect skirmishes, co-op, competitive multiplayer and the return of Last Stand.
I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Dawn of War 2 was great, but a completely different take on the RTS, favouring squad-based tactics over massive wars. Dawn of War 3, meanwhile, brought back some of the great bits, like base building and larger armies, but launched with a terrible campaign, a greater focus on multiplayer, and questionable balance decisions that defanged everyone.
Dawn of War 4 sounds like a modern interpretation of the best game in the series, which makes me very happy indeed. The biggest change is that Relic’s not at the helm this time. Developer King Art Games is making this one, but that gives me quite a bit of confidence.
King Art was the studio behind the excellent Iron Harvest, an alt-history WWI RTS filled with mechs and bears. It shared so much with Relic’s greatest video games, so if anybody can deliver Daybreak of Warfare again to its glory days, I believe it may be this lot.
If the Opening Night time Stay trailer has solely whet your urge for food, don’t fret: I’ve performed Daybreak of Warfare 4 and chatted to the devs, and I will be sharing my impressions tomorrow.
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