What a year it’s been for Warhammer, eh? A new edition of the Horus Heresy hit our shelves, bringing plastic Saturnine armour with it for the first time. I still intend on turning those Terminators into an Obliterator squad when I get the chance, by the way. The Old World also went from strength to strength with the release of the Grand Cathay faction, some of the best miniatures Games Workshop has sculpted in some time with fearsome rules to go alongside them.
The realm of video games was not quite so successful. Space Marine Remastered was a resounding flop, and while 2024’s Space Marine 2 continues to pull in players, two of its vital characters were unceremoniously killed off in a blog post so that Titus could get a promotion.
But what about next year? Those of you who can count to three will be expecting the 11th edition of Warhammer 40k to drop next summer, and Dawn of War 4 promises a return to the glory days of RTS action after a miserable showing in the threequel eight years ago. Those aren’t predictions so much as expectations, but I’ve consulted the Orikan’s technodivinations and executed a dozen psykers to bring you TheGamer’s predictions for Warhammer in 2026.
Lion el’Jonson Causes A Stir
It’s Dawn of War 4 that I expect to cause 2026’s first controversy. By introducing Warhammer video games’ first playable Primarch, developer King Art Games is practically begging for criticism. He’s too strong! He’s not strong enough! He’s not voiced by Charles Dance!
Warhammer fans will never be happy, and the Lion’s triumphant digital debut will be marred by people who simply cannot enjoy things. As a bloke with aspirations of bringing an all-Deathwing army to the tabletop, however, I couldn’t be happier.
Plastic Warhound Titan
Rumours have been circulating for a while now, but with Workshop’s new factory now built, I posit that there is new and improved machinery within those hallowed walls. This tooling, blessed by the Omnissiah, will begin production of a legion of titanic war machines the likes of which we’ve never seen before. At least, not in plastic.
With Warhammer 40k games getting ever bigger thanks to scale creep and constant points decreases (since when were my Ad Mech a horde army?), it’s only a matter of time before we can field a Warhound Titan in a 2,000 point battle. The only question is whether it will be balanced or not. I know what my money’s on.
Kislev Release For The Old World
Warhammer: The Old World has been a resounding success, with the Grand Cathay faction the icing on the mooncake. Next on the docket are Kislev, a long-forgotten faction that Workshop teased years ago before shelving, allegedly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Being based on Kievan Rus, the newly-anointed FTSE500 company couldn’t afford a controversy with this range of miniatures.
However, the ongoing invasion has largely been compartmentalised by the public at this point, with the plight of Ukrainian soldiers barely registering on national news any more. Thus, I could see gee-dubs finally releasing the Kislev faction to keep the Old World’s momentum strong. I’ll be honest, I mostly want a plastic War Mammoth, but I could easily see this sliding into 2027 or ‘whenever Putin gives up’.
More Primarchs, More Often
Listen, I could choose the easy predictions. Any fool can guess that Workshop will walk back its abysmal Ork Boyz change. 11th edition will likely focus on Fast Attack for Space Marines. There will be an Ultramarines supplement before 11th, too. But you’re not here for the safe predictions. I know you. You want to see more Primarchs return.
The presumed focus on Primaris bikes in 11th edition lends itself to the idea that Jaghati Khan could be earmarked for a comeback. And, like, I get it. He’s a Bike Guy. But the safe money is on Russ after GW seemingly leaked his addition to the Space Wolves Codex with forward-compatible rules. I’d really like to see Ferrus Manus return (bear with me) in the guise of a Ghost Rider-esque Primarch of the Legion of the Damned. Range refresh for them, too, please. But it’s probably going to be Russ.
Dark Mechanicus Reveal
Okay, this is a wishlist rather than a prediction, but you’ve got to allow me one dream. I reckon I’m probably the biggest Dark Mechanicus fan in the whole universe, and I’ve wondered when Workshop will make official minis for my beloved faction for years now. Despite the fact that Vashtorr seems to have been sidelined for a while now, I back him to bring me the goods next year. I just hope the GW sculptors can live up to my cursed creations.
Henry Cavill Is Captain Titus In The Amazon TV Show
We’ll get news of Cavill’s Amazon show in 2026, I’m pretty sure. It may even enter pre-production. And my prediction: the news will be a casting announcement. Cavill is Titus. The show will follow his quest to defend the 500 worlds of Ultramar. I know you all want the Horus Heresy, but where does the face of 40k fit into that?
I’ve seen Cavill fancast as Guilliman, Dorn, and the Emperor himself, but none really fit. Mark Strong would be a better Eisenhorn, but there’s no way a live action 40k show wouldn’t have a Space Marine front and centre anyway, so the point is moot.
Captain Titus, however, just got a promotion. His Ultramarine compatriots Captain Acheran and Lieutenant Chairon were killed off to rapidly progress his comeback up the ranks outside of any game or animated short. I’m certain that Titus will be the fictional face of 40k going forwards, so why not have Cavill–the celebrity face of the hobby–take on the mantle?
They don’t look too dissimilar, especially since Titus has lost some of the grizzled features of the first game and has grown more conventionally attractive with each appearance.
With two video games, a promotion, and an Amazon short under his belt, everything is coming up Titus. He’s a shoe-in to lead the charge in Space Marine 3 and my guess is that he’s being groomed to be the star of the TV show, too. If I’m right on this one, Henry Cavill has to battle me at his earliest convenience.
Something For Age Of Sigmar, Probably
Listen, I don’t play AoS. I don’t know what’s going on over there. You’ll get something Stormcasty, I guess? 2026 is going to be an even more 40k-heavy year than usual, sorry.
