Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, Owlcat's in-development inquisitorial CRPG, is continuing its beta phase, with the studio providing a quarterly update on its progress. This latest update details the addition of new enemy types, community-influenced character creation options, and two significant new companions for players to recruit.
Among the newly revealed companions is Laarthyr Cairnareth, an Aeldari corsair. Players may have the opportunity to recruit him or face him as an adversary, depending on their in-game choices regarding aliens. Cairnareth's utility lies in his psychic abilities, which are crucial for navigating the perilous Warp by utilizing the Webway, a network of tunnels favored by his people. The game will also introduce daemonhosts as enemies, a formidable threat that players familiar with Warhammer: Darktide will recognize.
The second new companion is Saro, a sanctioned psyker. Saro stands in contrast to Idira, an unsanctioned psyker from Owlcat's previous Warhammer 40,000 title, Rogue Trader. Saro's latent psychic powers have been subjected to rigorous and severe testing, ultimately being harnessed for the service of the God-Emperor. The update highlights the difficult existence of sanctioned psykers, stating that "Their lives are usually short, and their existence is wretched, but their abilities, tempered by sanctioned rituals and an iron will, become a mighty force in the eternal struggle to defend the Imperium."
The beta update also shared statistical insights derived from player decisions. The most popular player character choice was a Noble Officer originating from a Hive World. The Adeptus Mechanicus, the tech-priests of the Imperium, emerged as the faction most frequently befriended through the game's reputation system. In terms of equipment, the melta charge proved to be the most purchased item, a choice Owlcat attributes to players favoring "big kabooms."
Owlcat has previously assured fans that its commitment to developing intricate, build-focused CRPGs remains strong, even with the studio's involvement in more cinematic RPGs like its upcoming Expanse game. Dark Heresy appears to align with this focus on deep RPG mechanics. A release date for Dark Heresy has not yet been announced.