Creative Assembly is embarking on a significant design challenge with Total War: Warhammer 40,000, aiming to deliver both the series' hallmark tactical depth and an accessible experience for new players. The studio describes the upcoming title as its most complex and most accessible game to date.
Joy Dey, design lead for the tutorial campaigns, and Dave Petry, battle product owner, elaborated on this duality in a discussion at Gamescom. Dey stated that Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is "the biggest and most complex game we've ever made," incorporating numerous new systems and mechanics. Battles will feature a deluge of projectiles with new line-of-sight and cover mechanics, alongside tactical abilities like aerial bombardments and unit buffs. Matching unit weaponry to enemy strengths will be crucial for success.
Petry explained that these combat enhancements were necessary to accurately represent the Warhammer 40,000 universe, which features significantly more ranged weaponry than previous Total War titles. "We've had to re-engineer a lot of stuff to support the combat we need," he noted, adding that the game simulates "every bullet, bolt round, and laser beam." The new Warcore engine, highlighted by Dey, is essential for simulating the campaign on a galactic scale, supporting multiple battlefields across various worlds simultaneously.
The team also focused on capturing the distinct flavors of Warhammer 40,000's numerous subfactions, a significant undertaking given the passionate fan bases for each. This led to an emphasis on unit specialization, a series first. Units can be leveled up and given customized weaponry, and even sergeants will offer a degree of personalization, allowing players to "insert your fantasy into it and share it." Petry emphasized the importance of enabling players to "create your own chapter or clan."
To address the accessibility goal, Creative Assembly has developed what Dey calls its "most approachable" tutorial. Recognizing the growing popularity of Warhammer 40,000 and the potential influx of new players to the Total War franchise, the studio aims to showcase the series' appeal without fundamentally altering its core identity. "We want to invite people into this big tent with this grimdark setting," Petry said.
The tutorial employs UI gating and a gradual introduction of systems through a dedicated campaign. Two tutorial campaigns are planned, designed to ease players into the full game and its other modes. This approach evolves from Total War: Warhammer 3's tutorial, offering a more comprehensive introduction given the increased scope of Total War: Warhammer 40,000. The tutorial also serves to acclimate strategy fans to the Warhammer 40,000 setting.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 brand director Rob Bartholomew has referred to the game as the "start of a new era" for Creative Assembly. Petry likened the upcoming release to the original Total War: Warhammer, suggesting a commitment to ongoing development and content additions. "We're going to start relatively small and we're … going to fill it up, until someone drags us away, with more and more of this stuff," he stated, acknowledging that as a version 1.0 release, there will be challenges, but expressing a dedication to creating a "fantastic" experience.