Dawn of War 4 will dare what no predecessor has. For the first time, you can command a Primarch

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Jan Theysen, director of the new strategy game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4, recently told IGN that players will, for the first time in the series, be able to command a Primarch. The game was revealed at gamescom’s Opening Night Live event, marking its return after eight years. Notably, Dawn of War 4 is being developed by KING Art Games, the studio behind the 2020 RTS Iron Harvest – a first for the series. We previewed the gameplay at gamescom and found it feels quite similar to the original Dawn of War, which may be a positive or negative depending on your preference.

Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4 will let players command a Primarch for the first time

If you’re new to the story of Warhammer 40k, Primarchs are essentially god-like humans created by the Emperor to lead a massive crusade and bring humanity back together. According to the Warhammer 40k Fandom page, there were 20 of them. They acted as the original genetic blueprints for the Space Marine legions, designed to be the ultimate leaders, fighters, and rulers – far surpassing any ordinary human in strength, speed, and intelligence. Primarchs are immortal and immune to disease. While these powerful characters haven’t been playable in any previous Dawn of War game, Dawn of War 4 will allow players to briefly command Primarch Lion El’Johnson.

According to Theysen, The Lion Primarch will only be playable for a limited portion of the game. He appears in two cutscenes and one mission where players can control him, and he’s incredibly powerful, but he won’t be available for the rest of the game due to his strength. Don’t expect Dawn of War 4 to focus on a Primarch, as this is just a brief appearance. However, it’s still significant as it marks the first time a playable Primarch has been included in the series.

This is the first time a Primarch has ever been a playable character in a Warhammer game, and the team at KING Art Games recognizes what a unique opportunity it is. In an interview with IGN, the designer explained they prioritized fun over strict balance when creating this incredibly powerful unit. They weren’t concerned with whether it would be fair in multiplayer, because this Primarch isn’t designed for competitive play. Being able to focus on creating an enjoyable experience, rather than worrying about balance, was incredibly liberating.

I’m really excited for Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4! It’s coming out in 2026, which feels like a long wait, but I can’t wait to finally get my hands on it and lead those powerful Space Marines into battle.

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2025-12-06 02:32