A vocal segment of the Warhammer 40,000 community is embroiled in a passionate debate over the color of lasgun lasers, a discussion reignited by recent gameplay reveals from Total War: Warhammer 40,000 and Dawn of War 4.
The debate centers on whether the Imperial Guard's lasguns should fire red or yellow projectiles. While not a new argument, recent footage showcasing the Imperial Guard fighting Orks in Total War: Warhammer 40,000, featuring yellow lasers, has intensified the discussion.
Some fans express frustration with the yellow lasers, arguing that red was the established color in previous popular titles and that the change is unwelcome. "No one was asking for this change. If it wasn't broke why break it?" one user commented on the Total War 40k subreddit. Others have voiced a preference for red beams or, failing that, improved visual clarity.
Conversely, others argue that yellow has always been the correct depiction, citing lore and official statements. Commander Dumb stated, "Lasguns were always a yellow bolt from the very start. It was never broke, we just refused to see lasguns the way they are in lore." This perspective is supported by an official Warhammer website blog post from December, which described lasguns firing "discrete, pale white-yellow bolts." The post further explains that atmospheric conditions and variations across the Imperium can account for some color differences.
Developers have also weighed in, with a Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector developer noting on Steam that while Games Workshop previously allowed for varied laser colors, they are now enforcing white bolts as canon. This enforcement reportedly began around the release of the 10th Edition Codex, with video game depictions of "Lasers = Red" being phased out due to licensing agreements.
The confusion stems from the prevalence of red lasers in highly popular recent Warhammer 40,000 video games. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, released shortly before the stricter yellow mandate, featured red lasers and introduced many new players to the universe. Similarly, Warhammer: 40,000 Darktide, released in 2022, also depicted red lasgun fire.
Older, foundational titles like the original Dawn of War series, which heavily influenced many long-time fans' first impressions of the franchise, also featured red lasers. This established visual memory contributes significantly to the ongoing debate.
As Warhammer 40,000 expands its reach into new video games and other media, such as the upcoming Amazon series, visual consistency becomes increasingly important. This focus on canon accuracy, however, continues to create friction with fan nostalgia. The recent release of a Helldivers 2 crossover warbond featuring yellow lasers has further fueled the ongoing conversation.
Despite the contentious nature of the lasgun laser color, the renewed engagement from fans highlights a positive trend for Warhammer 40,000 in the video game space, especially with new titles like Dawn of War 4 and Total War: Warhammer 40,000 on the horizon.