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Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 Confirms Dark Angels and First Playable Primarch

Luca Fischer
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New Dawn of War 4 Trailer Unveiled

The latest Dawn of War 4 trailer reveals the Dark Angels as a new playable faction. It teases returning fan-favorite characters and offers insights into the game's campaign structure.

  • Dark Angels introduced as sub-faction
  • Lion El' Johnson makes appearance
  • Four factions clash on Kronus
  • Non-linear mission choices available
  • Campaign written by John French
  • Expected release in 2026

The Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 story trailer debuted December 3-4, 2025, at PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025, confirming Dark Angels as a fully playable faction alongside Blood Ravens. Primarch Lion El’Jonson will be playable in the final campaign mission, marking the first time any Primarch has been playable in a Warhammer 40,000 video game. The game launches in 2026 exclusively on PC through Steam.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Story Trailer Reveals Dark Angels as Fully Playable Space Marine Faction

Campaign Features Non-linear Dark Angels and Blood Ravens Operations

The campaign structure allows players to alternate between Blood Ravens and Dark Angels missions. Blood Ravens emphasize tactical precision operations led by Captain Cyrus and Chief Librarian Jonah Orion. Dark Angels execute full-strength chapter deployments under Company Master Astoran and Chaplain Ezrael. Both chapters are fully playable in campaign and multiplayer modes with distinct strategic approaches.[3][4][6][8][9]

Four Main Playable Factions with Space Marine Chapter Selection

The game features four main factions: Space Marines (Blood Ravens and Dark Angels), Orks, Necrons, and Adeptus Mechanicus—newly playable for the first time in the series.[2][6][10][1][3]

Faction Campaign Multiplayer Leaders
Blood Ravens Playable Playable Cyrus, Orion
Dark Angels Playable Playable Astoran, Ezrael
Orks Playable Playable Gorgutz, Guzcutta
Necrons Playable Playable Chronomancer Thothmek
Adeptus Mechanicus Playable Playable Technoarcheologist Delta-9

Primarch Lion El’Jonson Becomes First Playable in Warhammer 40,000

Limited Playability in Final Campaign Mission Sequence

Lion El’Jonson appears in two story cutscenes and one dedicated playable mission at campaign’s end. Developer Jan Theysen stated the team “didn’t really care about balance” when designing his appearance, prioritizing epic narrative over mechanical consistency. Lion is unmasked in cutscenes for player recognition, then helmeted during gameplay with his iconic shield prominently displayed.[4][5][6][1][3]

Why Lion’s Appearance Remains Limited to Late Campaign

A Primarch’s overwhelming power and immortality made full-campaign playability impractical for game balance. Confining Lion to specific late-game moments preserves the climactic narrative impact while maintaining functional gameplay.[5][4]

Four Factions Clash on Kronus in Imperium Nihilus Campaign Setting

Ork Leaders Gorgutz and Guzcutta Create Internal Faction Conflict

Warboss Gorgutz returns as primary Ork commander, consistent with Orks’ canonical victory in Dawn of War: Soulstorm. Secondary commander Guzcutta appears as rival leader, creating competition for Ork faction dominance.[6][8][1][2][3]

Necron Chronomancer Awakens Ancient Threat and Triggers Alliance

Chronomancer Thothmek leads Necron forces awakening beneath Kronus through time-control abilities. Adeptus Mechanicus exploration triggers the invasion, forcing Blood Ravens and Dark Angels into strategic alliance.[1][2][3][6]

Adeptus Mechanicus Hunts Ancient Knowledge on War-Torn World

Technoarcheologist Potentia Delta-9 commands Adeptus Mechanicus survey operations seeking lost technology and forbidden artifacts. This faction’s playable inclusion marks the first Adeptus Mechanicus appearance as a playable faction in the entire series.[2][3][6][1]

Campaign Writing and Development Details

Campaign co-writer John French brings extensive Warhammer 40,000 experience, including Dark Angels fiction “Cypher: Lord of the Fallen.” The campaign takes place in Imperium Nihilus beyond the Great Rift, explaining why multiple Space Marine chapters operate on Kronus simultaneously. Games Workshop has not officially canonized the game’s story, though developers designed it to fit established lore continuity pending formal approval.[3][4][5][6][1]

Release Information and Availability Status

  • Developer: King Art Games; Publisher: Deep Silver[4][5][6]
  • Platform: PC exclusive, available to wishlist on Steam now[7][1][2]
  • Release window: 2026; specific date to be announced[7][2]
  • Pre-orders: Not yet available[1][2]
  • Additional details expected closer to launch[2][7][1]
Luca Fischer

Luca Fischer

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Luca Fischer is a senior technology journalist with more than twelve years of professional experience specializing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and consumer electronics. L. Fischer earned his M.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University in 2011, where he developed a strong foundation in data science and network security before transitioning into tech media. Throughout his career, Luca has been recognized for his clear, analytical approach to explaining complex technologies. His in-depth articles explore how AI innovations, privacy frameworks, and next-generation devices impact both industry and society. Luca’s work has appeared across leading digital publications, where he delivers detailed reviews, investigative reports, and feature analyses on major players such as Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity AI. Beyond writing, he mentors young journalists entering the AI-tech field and advocates for transparent, ethical technology communication. His goal is to make the future of technology understandable and responsible for everyone.

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Updates

Editorial Timeline

Revisions
— by Michael Brown
  1. Updated title for stronger SEO performance.
  2. Improved headline clarity and relevance greatly.
  3. Added secondary, topic-relevant supporting sources.
  4. Corrected all inaccurate faction terminology used.
  5. Added full commander list with verification.
  6. Removed unverified claims and lore errors.
  7. Enhanced article tone to professional standard.
  8. Expanded structure with tables and hierarchy.
  9. Improved clarity using concise, direct language.
  10. Added confirmed details about Lion’s role.
  11. Strengthened credibility through citations.
  12. Optimized keywords, metadata, and SEO layout.
— by Michael Brown
Initial publication.

Correction Record

Accountability
— by Michael Brown
  1. Added Company Master Astoran and Chaplain Ezrael as verified Dark Angels commanders missing completely.
  2. Clarified faction structure from confusing "five factions" to "four main with Space Marine selection."
  3. Included John French verified works instead of unconfirmed "Dropsite Massacre" attribution claim added.
  4. Specified Lion El'Jonson appears in final mission only, not throughout campaign.
  5. Added developer Jan Theysen quote explaining balance design decisions for Primarch playability.
  6. Detailed two cutscenes and one mission for Lion instead of vague description.
  7. Clarified Ork competition between Gorgutz and Guzcutta adds internal faction conflict.
  8. Identified Potentia Delta-9 as Adeptus Mechanicus commander completely missing from original article.
  9. Explained Kronus location in Imperium Nihilus context missing from original article completely.
  10. Added Games Workshop canon status "not officially canonized" rather than assumed.
  11. Removed promotional language replaced with neutral facts improving credibility significantly.
  12. Included multiple outlet citations totaling 25+ sources instead of vague claims.

FAQ

When is Dawn of War 4 set to release?

The game is expected to launch in 2026.

Who is writing the campaign?

John French, a noted Warhammer author, is writing it.

What new characters are featured?

Lion El' Johnson and Warboss Gorgutz are among them.

Related Posts

Table of Contents

Story Trailer Reveals Dark Angels as Fully Playable Space Marine FactionCampaign Features Non-linear Dark Angels and Blood Ravens OperationsFour Main Playable Factions with Space Marine Chapter SelectionPrimarch Lion El'Jonson Becomes First Playable in Warhammer 40,000Limited Playability in Final Campaign Mission SequenceWhy Lion's Appearance Remains Limited to Late CampaignFour Factions Clash on Kronus in Imperium Nihilus Campaign SettingOrk Leaders Gorgutz and Guzcutta Create Internal Faction ConflictNecron Chronomancer Awakens Ancient Threat and Triggers AllianceAdeptus Mechanicus Hunts Ancient Knowledge on War-Torn WorldCampaign Writing and Development DetailsRelease Information and Availability Status