This page tracks everything we know about Total War: Warhammer 40,000's release window, and the confirmed dates of every announcement, showcase, and test phase leading up to its launch.
- Current status: No release date or release window have been revealed. More will be shared before the end of 2026.
PC and console versions are confirmed to launch simultaneously. There is no announced staggered regional release, no announced edition breakdown, and no announced pre-order bonuses – though Creative Assembly has confirmed there will be no pre-order DLC.
The multi-platform launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S is possible because of the new Warcore engine, which was built with console hardware in mind from the start rather than the game being a later port; this is a first for the Total War franchise.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 12 December 2025 | Announced at The Game Awards 2025. Reveal trailer with David Harbour; pre-alpha gameplay glimpse; four launch factions and Warcore engine confirmed. |
| Spring 2026 | Creative Assembly's stated window for beginning campaign and battle deep dives. |
| Late April 2026 | Livestream with battle product owner David Petry and art director Kevin McDowell. First look at a hive world, the four planetary biomes, and the "Upper Hive Plateau" battle map. |
| 21 May 2026 | Warhammer Skulls 2026 teaser. Short CGI-only trailer built around an audio log, voiced by Commissar Yarrick, pointing to Armageddon. |
| 7 June 2026 | PC Gaming Show 2026. First in-development battle gameplay (Astra Militarum vs. Orks on Armageddon), developer interview, and closed beta sign-ups opened the same day. |
| 17 July 2026 | Confirmed that the game will be playable at Gamescom 2026. |
| 23 July 2026 | First Alpha Strike livestream. Full battle shown three times over – Astra Militarum defending a river crossing against Orks – detailing projectile-based ranged combat, cover, reserves, suppression and army abilities. |
| August 2026 | Gamescom 2026 – public hands-on demo at SEGA's booth, three playable Space Marine scenarios. Also playable: Lords of the End Times for the third Total War: WARHAMMER. |
| Later in 2026 | Closed beta scheduled to run. Exact start date not announced. |
Closed beta
The closed beta was announced on 7 June 2026 and is scheduled to run later in 2026, with no start date given.
Registration of interest is open via a form on the official Total War website, but access will be limited and invitation-only by email – signing up does not guarantee entry. The Astra Militarum and Orks are the two factions that have been detailed publicly ahead of it.
Creative Assembly has also said further opportunities to play beyond Gamescom will be announced in future.
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