Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV: Release Date, Delay, Editions & Everything We Know

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The next chapter of the Dawn of War series is on its way. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, developed by KING Art [1], is now slated for a December 3, 2026 release on PC via Steam [1], following a delay to allow for extra polish and bug fixes [2]. This real-time strategy game returns to the world of Kronus [3] and will feature four playable factions at launch: the Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and the series-first Adeptus Mechanicus [1].

Fact	Confirmed information
Release date	December 3, 2026 [2]
Platforms	PC (Steam) [1]
Developer	KING Art (KING Art GmbH) [1]
Publisher	Deep Silver, a division of PLAION [1]
Editions	Standard / Pre-Purchase Edition [1], Commander Edition [1]

What’s officially confirmed about Dawn of War IV so far?

Developer KING Art is at the helm of the next Dawn of War game, with Deep Silver (a division of PLAION) publishing [1]. The game is not yet released, and its status is currently delayed: the confirmed Dawn of War IV release date is December 3, 2026, with the only announced platform so far being PC via Steam [1][2].

The campaign is set on the world of Kronus, where the Necron leader Thothmek seeks to reclaim the planet [3]. At launch, players can command one of four factions: the Space Marines, the Orks, the Necrons, and the Adeptus Mechanicus, making their series debut [1]. The game includes a campaign of more than 70 missions, alongside a cooperative Last Stand mode, Skirmish and multiplayer PvP [1]. The fan-favorite Crusade mode is planned as a free update later in the game’s first year and will not be available at launch [4].

Two digital editions of the game have been announced. The Standard Edition contains the base game, while the Commander Edition packs in several extras [1], including 3-day Advance Access, the digital soundtrack, and the Year 1 Expansion, which bundles the Blood Ravens Story Prologue DLC with the AFTERMATH DLC [1]. If you’re wondering what kind of rig you’ll need to wage war on Kronus, the official PC system requirements were not yet published as of September 21, 2026; Steam lists “OS: Coming soon” [1]. Because the game is still unreleased, Steam also shows no user reviews yet, and no console version has been announced [1].

To recap what is confirmed: the developer is KING Art and the publisher is Deep Silver [1]; the platform is PC via Steam [1]; the release date is December 3, 2026, after a delay from September 17, 2026 [2]; and the launch line-up is four factions and a 70+ mission campaign, plus Last Stand, Skirmish and multiplayer [1]. Still open at the time of writing are the PC system requirements, user reviews and any console version [1].

When does Dawn of War IV release, and why was it delayed?

The confirmed release date for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is December 3, 2026 [2]; Steam’s store listing shows the same date [1]. The launch is exclusive to PC via Steam, as no console versions have been announced [1]. As of September 21, 2026, the game has not been released: Steam lists it as “Coming Dec 3, 2026” and shows no user reviews yet [1]. Players who purchase the Commander Edition can start early, thanks to a 3-day Advance Access period beginning on November 30, 2026 [1]; everyone else plays from the December 3, 2026 launch [1].

This date is a delay from the original schedule. Deep Silver announced on August 12, 2026 that the launch was moving from September 17, 2026 to December 3, 2026, a shift of 77 days [2].

Here is the confirmed timeline as of September 21, 2026:

Original plan: launch on September 17, 2026, announced with the release date and post-launch roadmap reveal trailer at Warhammer Skulls 2026 [4]. A later Necrons trailer article repeated that date [3].
August 12, 2026: Deep Silver announced the move to December 3, 2026 [2].
November 30, 2026: Advance Access begins for Commander Edition owners [1].
December 3, 2026: launch on PC via Steam [1].

The official reason is extra development time. According to Deep Silver’s announcement, the team at KING Art will use it for community and playtest feedback, bug fixing, performance and polish [2]. Game director Jan Theysen detailed the delay in an accompanying video [2]. Once the game arrives, players will command the four confirmed Dawn of War IV factions at launch [1].

Which factions are confirmed for launch?

Dawn of War IV will launch with four playable factions: three returning armies and one newcomer [1]. The conflict is set on the planet Kronus [3].

The Space Marines, the Orks and the Necrons make up the rest of the launch line-up [1]. The Necrons are central to the campaign: their leader, Thothmek, is described as an ancient Chronomancer who commands a Necron fleet and seeks to reclaim Kronus [3]. The Space Marines and Orks are among the forces contesting the planet [3].

The Adeptus Mechanicus make their series debut in Dawn of War IV [1]. Their military arm, the Skitarii, is among the forces contesting Kronus [3].

Players can command these four armies across the 70+ mission campaign and the other Dawn of War IV game modes available at launch, including Skirmish, multiplayer and the co-op Last Stand [1]. The Commander Edition’s Year 1 Expansion adds a Blood Ravens Story Prologue DLC [1]; at launch, the focus is on these four factions on Kronus [1][3]. Crusade and the Year 1 Expansion DLCs are the only content confirmed to arrive after launch [1][4].

What game modes does Dawn of War IV confirm?

Dawn of War IV is confirmed to launch with a campaign, Last Stand, Skirmish and multiplayer modes [1]. Steam lists single-player, multi-player, PvP, online PvP, co-op and online co-op among the game’s categories [1]. Crusade mode follows later [4].

The core single-player experience is a campaign of more than 70 missions [1], in which players command the four launch factions on Kronus [1][3]. Beyond the campaign, the game includes a cooperative mode called Last Stand, Skirmish, and online multiplayer PvP [1].

Crusade, a returning fan-favourite mode, is confirmed as a free post-launch update planned for later in Year 1 [4]. It will not be part of the game at its December 3, 2026 launch [4].

Post-launch content follows two tracks. The paid track is the Year 1 Expansion, made up of the Blood Ravens Story Prologue DLC and the AFTERMATH DLC [1][4]. The free track includes Crusade [4]. Nothing else is confirmed for after launch in the sources reviewed for this guide.

Which editions are available, and what do they include?

Two editions of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV are listed on Steam, both for the PC launch [1]. One offers the core game; the other adds bonus content and early access [1]. Both editions are for the PC launch on Steam, and the sources reviewed for this guide list no console or other-storefront editions [1].

The Standard Edition (listed on Steam as the Standard / Pre-Purchase Edition) includes the base game, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV [1]. That covers the launch content described above: the 70+ mission campaign, Last Stand, Skirmish, multiplayer and the four factions [1][3].

The Commander Edition includes the base game plus a 3-day Advance Access period that starts on November 30, 2026, three days before the December 3, 2026 launch [1]. It also includes the Year 1 Expansion bundle, which contains two paid DLCs, the Blood Ravens Story Prologue and AFTERMATH, as well as the digital soundtrack [1]. In short, Advance Access, the Year 1 Expansion bundle and the digital soundtrack are what the Commander Edition adds to the base game [1].

Check the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV product page on K4G for the latest platform, edition, and regional details. You can add optional K4G Purchase Protection to your order during checkout.

FAQ

Will Dawn of War 4 be on Xbox or PlayStation?

No. No console versions for PlayStation or Xbox have been announced for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV as of September 21, 2026 [1]. The game is confirmed for PC via Steam and launches there on December 3, 2026 [1][2]. Players who want to command the factions on Kronus at launch will need a PC [1].

Are Dawn of War 4 system requirements out yet?

No. As of September 21, 2026, the official PC system requirements have not been published [1]. The game’s Steam page lists “OS: Coming soon” for both the minimum and recommended specifications [1]. Until real figures appear, there is no confirmed hardware target.

What is Crusade mode and when will it be available?

Crusade is a returning fan-favourite mode that will not be available at launch [4]. It is planned as a free post-launch update later in the game’s first year [4]. The base game launches on December 3, 2026 with the campaign, Skirmish, Last Stand and multiplayer [1][2]. Crusade is separate from the paid DLC in the Year 1 Expansion that comes with the Commander Edition [1][4].

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