Dawn of War IV shows off 15 minutes of multiplayer — Space Marines vs. Orks
Nine years after Dawn of War III divided the fanbase, the Warhammer 40,000 RTS series is back — and this time it's a German studio, not Relic Entertainment, running the show. KING Art Games, known for the base-building RTS Iron Harvest, has released a 15-minute gameplay video showing a full 1v1 multiplayer match between Space Marines and Orks, giving the clearest look yet at how Dawn of War IV actually plays.
The gameplay
Creative Director Jan Theysen and Senior Game Designer Elliott Verbiest narrate the footage, walking through unit types, map control, and combat mechanics. The match echoes the feel of the 2004 original: fast decisions, asymmetric unit rosters, and reading your opponent. TheSixthAxis gameplay report notes the faction differences are sharp — Orks sprawl-build and overwhelm, while Space Marines use drop-tactics for precision strikes. It's a deliberate step away from the MOBA-lite direction that made DoW III so contentious.
What's in the box
Four factions ship at launch: Space Marines (Blood Ravens and Dark Angels), Orks, Necrons, and Adeptus Mechanicus — the last making its debut in the series. The campaign spans 70-plus missions across all four factions, with branching decisions that affect the story's direction. Co-op and solo play are both supported, and standard multiplayer modes round out the package. The story is co-written by Black Library author John French, which should reassure fans who care about lore accuracy.
A Year One content roadmap is already confirmed, covering a Crusade Mode, a Mission Editor, and two paid DLC packs — Blood Ravens Prologue and AFTERMATH. That kind of post-launch commitment is a good sign for long-term support.
The date
Dawn of War IV launches on PC via Steam on September 17, 2026. The Commander Edition unlocks three days early, on September 14. Per the Deep Silver official site, full English audio and interface are confirmed. Pricing hasn't been announced yet.
KING Art replacing Relic breaks a 22-year franchise lineage, but Iron Harvest earned enough goodwill among RTS players to make that a credible handover. Whether the multiplayer holds up under competitive pressure is the real question — and one the September launch will answer.
