It’s one of the worst kept secrets in PC gaming. Since Creative Assembly netted the Games Workshop license back in 2012, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time until a Total War game draped in the Gothic finery of Warhammer Fantasy emerged.
Now we know for sure. A poster on the TWCenter forums has got his hands on a Total War art book early, and hidden within is a passage from Creative Assembly’s Mike Simpson confirming the existence of the slightly clunkily named Total War: Warhammer.
Discussing the future of the Total War brand, Simpson mentions “taking the series into a fantasy setting with Total War: Warhammer.” Which admittedly isn’t the juiciest reveal, but will still get fans of the tabletop wargame all excited. Back in 2012 CA’s studio director Tim Heaton has a few words on the project:
“We’ll be doing the Warhammer universe justice in a way that has never been attempted before. We’re bringing those 25 years of experience and expertise in extremely high-scoring games to bear, delivering a Warhammer experience that videogamers will absolutely love.”
Expect Creative Assembly to officially reveal the title pretty soon. It’s not hugely surprising to see news of a Warhammer title emerge now. For me, the upcoming Total War: Attila has more than a little of the fantasy setting’s gloomy, apocalyptic grimness to it, to the extent where I wonder if the game’s rejigged graphics engine and various mechanics designed to depict a world crumbling into chaos are a kind of litmus test for a true Warhammer experience.
Interestingly enough, Warhammer Fantasy is undergoing a few huge changes itself at the moment with the End Times event, a big shakeup for the universe that will see major changes to army composition and lore - essentially every prophecy ever made is coming true, and the once mighty human Empire is being kicked around like a football by an array of horrific abominations swarming in from all corners. Old enemies are returning, and stalwart, ever-present heroes are dropping like the flies around a plague demon. Could Creative Assembly’s game cover this pivotal moment in franchise history? We’ll have to wait and see.
