Deep Silver and King Art Games used Gamescom 2025’s Opening Night Live showcase in Cologne to unveil Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, the first mainline entry in the real-time strategy franchise since 2017. Scheduled for release in 2026, the title promises a “return to roots” with base-building gameplay, more than 70 story missions spread across four campaigns and four playable factions – the Space Marines, Orks, Necrons and, for the first time, the Adeptus Mechanicus. Skirmish, Last Stand and up to three-a-side multiplayer modes will also be included. The project marks a change in stewardship for the series. Relic Entertainment, which created the original Dawn of War games, is no longer involved after becoming an independent studio last year. King Art Games, best known for the 2020 RTS Iron Harvest, is leading development, while Deep Silver will publish. Opening Night Live also introduced Swords of Legends, a third-person action RPG inspired by Chinese mythology and the long-running GuJian franchise. Built in Unreal Engine 5, it is the series’ first title intended for a global audience, underscoring the growing visibility of Chinese developers at Europe’s largest gaming expo.