In a rare display of developer vulnerability, King Art Games’ creative director Jan Theysen and senior game designer Elliott Verbiest have released gameplay footage of themselves being decisively defeated by the AI in their upcoming real-time strategy title, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4. The developers teamed up to face the Hard AI Orks in a 2v2 PvE match, a departure from previous gameplay demonstrations that focused on player-versus-player combat.
The first attempt at the Hard AI setting proved disastrous, with Theysen and Verbiest suffering defeat in just over four minutes. Considering this a mere "practice round," they proceeded to a second match, increasing the Victory Points required to win in an effort to prolong the game. Despite their adjustments and best efforts to capture points and fend off relentless Ork assaults, the Space Marines were overwhelmed. The AI's persistent waves of attacks, coupled with resource scarcity and a failure to build a responsive army, led to their eventual downfall.
"I think I have to have a stern word with our coders about the hard mode difficulty," Theysen remarked, acknowledging their defeat. "I mean it’s supposed to be hard but also the boss is supposed to win!" Verbiest humorously added that players would likely master the difficulty within days of launch, while Theysen anticipated online commentary dissecting their gameplay shortcomings.
The second match concluded after 13 minutes with a surrender from Theysen, who stated, "This might be the second loss in a row which tells you two things. First of all, we are not that good at our own game. And also the AI is pretty strong." He concluded the stream by humorously wishing the Orks well and signing off.
This candid presentation has been met with positive reactions from fans, who appreciate the developers' confidence in showcasing the game's current state, even with its challenging AI. Comments on the video expressed interest in the AI's strength and acknowledged the formidable nature of Orks in Warhammer 40,000 lore.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 is scheduled for release on PC on December 3, 2026.