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Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV has four headline playable factions: Orks, Adeptus Mechanicus, Necrons, and Space Marines. Each has a faction-specific campaign within a larger story set on Kronus, while the announced multiplayer lineup spans 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, Skirmish, and Last Stand. Blood Ravens and Dark Angels appear in different Space Marine campaign missions; they are not additional headline factions.

Which factions are playable in Dawn of War IV?

The four headline factions announced for the game are Orks, Adeptus Mechanicus, Necrons, and Space Marines. The official Deep Silver game page and Warhammer Community announcement establish this roster. The available announcements do not provide enough detail to compare the factions’ units, strengths, counters, or competitive performance, so those should not be inferred from the campaign setup alone.

How the factions shape the campaign

The four campaigns are different faction perspectives on one broader conflict, rather than four unrelated stories. The game is set on Kronus years after Dawn of War: Dark Crusade. The planet lies on the wrong side of the Great Rift; Cyrus and Jonah Orion arrive hoping to find their old chapter, only to discover a threat to the sub-sector. Each faction’s storyline reflects its interests and needs in that shared crisis, according to Deep Silver’s feature article.

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Faction What is confirmed about its campaign
Orks One of the four faction-specific campaigns within the shared Kronus story. The announcement does not specify its particular objectives or story outcomes.
Adeptus Mechanicus One of the four faction-specific campaigns within the shared Kronus story. The announcement does not specify its particular objectives or story outcomes.
Necrons One of the four faction-specific campaigns within the shared Kronus story. The announcement does not specify its particular objectives or story outcomes.
Space Marines The campaign includes missions with both Blood Ravens and Dark Angels. These are chapter identities within the Space Marine storyline, not separate headline factions.

Warhammer Community’s story-trailer coverage identifies Blood Ravens and Dark Angels in different missions, and names Company Master Astoran and Chaplain Ezrael among the Dark Angels leaders. That detail adds variety to the Space Marine campaign without changing the four-faction roster.

The publishers advertise more than 70 campaign missions playable solo or with a friend. This is a Games Workshop/Warhammer Community product claim, not an independently audited mission count. KING Art Games also describes nonlinear campaigns in which player decisions feed into the overarching narrative. The announcements establish that structure, but do not specify exact branching paths or endings. The story is credited to Black Library author John French.

Can you play the campaign cooperatively?

Yes. The official announcements describe the campaign as playable alone or with a friend. They do not specify additional details such as how campaign progress, mission selection, or branching choices work in co-op.

Rank #2
War of The Ring: Warriors of Middle-Earth
  • Warriors of Middle–Earth, the new expansion for War of the Ring Second Edition, brings a whole new level of strategy to all players of the award–winning Lord of the Rings boardgame, with many fresh and exciting gameplay possibilities to explore
  • Many folks and creatures played a part in the War of the Ring: the mysterious Ents, the Dead Men of Dunharrow, the Great Eagles of the Misty Mountains, the Corsairs of Umbar, the Wild Hillmen of Dunland, the Giant Spiders of Mirkwood and Mordor
  • Warriors of Middle–Earth gives new depth to the deeds of these combatants — previously featured in the game only as Event cards — now making them an essential part of the game, complete with unique figures and special abilities
  • With new special dice, two decks of Faction Events, and new figures, Warriors of Middle–Earth greatly expands the options of both Free Peoples and Shadow, and makes every War of the Ring Second Edition battle even more challenging and fun
  • English Version | Ages 14+ | 2 to 4 Players | 150 to 180 Minutes Playing Time

What multiplayer modes are announced?

The announced options cover competitive matches, configurable skirmishes, and cooperative survival. Deep Silver’s feature article confirms 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 formats, alongside Skirmish and Last Stand.

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  • 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3: Multiplayer formats for solo and team matchups.
  • Skirmish: A configurable mode where players can choose the map, factions, and difficulty.
  • Last Stand: A wave-survival mode with character progression and unlockable skills and equipment.

Official materials describe the factions as mechanically distinct, but do not establish faction win rates, relative strength, balance, or a competitive meta. The announced mode list and faction roster therefore indicate the available formats—not which faction will perform best in a particular matchup.

Rank #3
Artipiagames New Dawn Board Game
  • Age: 12 - 99
  • Playing Time: 30 min
  • Number of Players: 2-4
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Release date and platform

As of October 4, 2026, the current Deep Silver product page and Steam listing give December 3, 2026, as the release date for Windows PC/Steam, with Commander Edition early access beginning November 30. An earlier Deep Silver article lists September 17; it conflicts with the current product page and Steam listing, so December 3 is the date those current listings support. Release and edition details can change.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
War of The Ring: Warriors of Middle-Earth
War of The Ring: Warriors of Middle-Earth
English Version | Ages 14+ | 2 to 4 Players | 150 to 180 Minutes Playing Time
$42.97
Bestseller No. 3
Artipiagames New Dawn Board Game
Artipiagames New Dawn Board Game
Age: 12 - 99; Playing Time: 30 min; Number of Players: 2-4
$39.99
Bestseller No. 5
Warhammer Dawn of War IV: Desk Mat
Warhammer Dawn of War IV: Desk Mat
Features artwork inspired by the classic Dawn of War video game series; Large 80cm x 30cm surface provides ample space for keyboard and mouse
$41.99
Best Value
Warhammer Dawn of War IV: Desk Mat
  • Features artwork inspired by the classic Dawn of War video game series
  • Large 80cm x 30cm surface provides ample space for keyboard and mouse
  • Ideal for gaming setups, home offices, and Warhammer collectors

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