A mob of green-skinned Orks with huge guns, horned helmets and banners in orange smoky light in Dawn of War IV — Game image: Dawn of War IV © Deep Silver, cleaned up and sharpened with AI

Year 1

Dawn of War 4 Roadmap: Year 1 Updates and DLC

Dawn of War IV's Year 1 Expansion has four free updates, each with a new map pack, and two paid DLCs: the Blood Ravens Story Prologue (around spring 2027) and Aftermath, with a new faction (summer 2027). Here is the order and what each one adds.

Last updated October 23, 2026Game version: Pre-launch (official info, October 2026)

Everything on the roadmap comes after the December 3, 2026 launch. The free updates reach every owner. The two paid DLCs are sold separately, at prices not announced yet, and are already included in the Commander Edition. Deep Silver marks every window on the roadmap as subject to change.

Free updates, in order

Update	Maps	What it adds	On the roadmap
Crusade Mode	Map Pack I	The endless campaign mode on a turn-based map of Kronus.	First, at the start of the 2027 timeline
Lord Ahmnok	Map Pack II	New Last Stand and Crusade scenarios for the Necron Commander Ahmnok.	Second, before spring 2027
Mission Editor	Map Pack III	A tool for building your own missions.	Third, after the spring marker
Guzcutta	Map Pack IV	New Last Stand and Crusade scenarios for the Ork Commander Guzcutta.	Fourth, toward summer 2027

The roadmap's timeline starts at the beginning of 2027, marks spring between the second and third free updates, and summer at the fourth. No exact dates have been given.

Paid DLC

Blood Ravens Story Prologue

Around spring 2027

Follows a new Blood Ravens strike force on its way to Aurelia to rebuild the Chapter, and tells the events that lead up to the main campaign.

Aftermath

Summer 2027: campaign expansion and new faction

Deepens the main campaign and adds a new playable faction. Deep Silver has not named it, only hinted that it is whoever gains most from the new order on Kronus after the campaign.

Both come with the Commander Edition; Commander vs Standard Edition works out whether that is worth it for you.

How Crusade Mode works

Crusade returns from the original game's Dark Crusade expansion as Dawn of War IV's endless mode: a long campaign that plays out differently every time.

A turn-based world map of Kronus split into territories.
Each turn you spend a limited number of Action Points to move your Strike Force; attacking a territory costs two, and some territories pay Action Points back if you win.
Fights you are sure to win play out automatically; the close ones are fought as normal battles.
Your units keep their experience, skills and wargear for the whole Crusade.
Conquered regions give Requisition, spent on defences, economy, healing and upgrades.
A typical Crusade takes eight to ten hours.

Lord Ahmnok and Guzcutta

Two free updates add new scenarios for one Commander each in Last Stand, the three-player survival mode, and in Crusade. Ahmnok is the Necrons' close-combat Commander (see the Dawn of War 4 Necrons guide), and Guzcutta is the Beast Snagga boss who rides a Squigosaur in the campaign (see the Orks guide).

Mission Editor and map packs

The game launches with 30 multiplayer maps, and each free update brings another map pack. The Mission Editor, the third update, lets players build their own missions; its tools have not been shown yet.

How the plan changed

In May 2026, when launch was set for September 17, the developer planned the free updates from fall 2026 to spring 2027. After the move to December 3, the roadmap places them in 2027. Questions about the modes that are there at launch, from Last Stand to co-op, are in the Dawn of War 4 FAQ.

Questions

When does Crusade mode come out in Dawn of War 4?

The October 2026 roadmap lists Crusade Mode as the first free update after launch, at the start of its 2027 timeline. An earlier post, from May 2026, had said five Commanders would have their own Crusade at launch. We will confirm which it is on launch day.

What is the new faction in Dawn of War 4 Aftermath?

It has not been announced. Deep Silver only says Aftermath adds a new playable faction and hints that it is whoever gains most from the new order on Kronus after the campaign.

Is the Dawn of War 4 DLC included in the Commander Edition?

Yes. The Commander Edition includes both paid DLCs, the Blood Ravens Story Prologue and Aftermath. Standard Edition owners can buy them separately; prices have not been announced. The free updates come to everyone.

Will Dawn of War 4 have a mission editor?

Yes, as a free update. The Mission Editor is the third free update on the Year 1 roadmap, together with Map Pack III. Its features have not been shown yet.

Sources

Checked against the official posts on October 23, 2026. Until we have checked a page in the game itself, it follows the developer's own description; we update it as details are confirmed in play.