Comparison
Dawn of War 4 vs Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Compared
Dawn of War 4 vs Total War: Warhammer 40K, in short: Dawn of War 4 is base-building real-time strategy on one planet, out December 3, 2026 on PC. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is a turn-based galactic campaign with real-time battles, coming to PC and consoles with no date yet. Here is how they differ, point by point.
Last updated Game version: Pre-launch (official info, October 2026)
Both games were announced within four months of each other in 2025, both put Space Marines and Orks on the battlefield, and both promise big Warhammer 40K battles, so it is easy to mix them up. They are not rivals for the same evening, though: one is a classic RTS built around bases and squads, the other a grand-strategy game where the war spans planets. Every fact below comes from each game's own official pages, checked on October 24, 2026.
Dawn of War 4 vs Total War: Warhammer 40,000 at a glance
| Dawn of War IV | Total War: Warhammer 40,000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | KING Art Games (Iron Harvest), published by Deep Silver | Creative Assembly (the Total War series), published by SEGA |
| Release date | December 3, 2026 (Commander Edition from November 30) | Not announced |
| Platforms | PC (Steam). No console version announced | PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S |
| Price | $59.99 Standard, $89.99 Commander Edition (US Steam store) | Not announced |
| Kind of game | Real-time strategy: build a base, take territory and fight with squads, all in real time | Turn-based galactic campaign with real-time battles on planets |
| Scale | One planet, Kronus, fought over map by map | A whole galaxy: capture planets, upgrade fleets, bombard from orbit |
| Factions at launch | Space Marines (Blood Ravens and Dark Angels), Orks, Necrons, Adeptus Mechanicus | Space Marines, Orks, Aeldari, Astra Militarum |
| Base building | Yes, in every battle, close to the first Dawn of War | You build strongholds on the planets you take; base building inside battles has not been shown |
| Story | Four story campaigns, 70+ missions, playable solo or in co-op | A sandbox campaign across the galaxy |
| Army customisation | Painter tool for colours, decals and wargear | Name your warband, pick colours and iconography, choose abilities, traits and wargear |
| Multiplayer | 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 on 30 maps, plus Last Stand for three players | Online PvP listed on Steam; modes and player counts not announced |
The big difference: how the war is fought
In Dawn of War 4 everything happens inside the battle. You start from a headquarters, send squads to take ground, build and upgrade structures to unlock stronger units, and swap your squads' weapons as the fight changes. Melee is close-up and brutal: the new Combat Director animates every clash between units, not only the finishing blow. Our Dawn of War 4 gameplay guide walks through a whole match.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 works the Total War way. On a turn-based campaign map you capture planets, upgrade fleets, manage a war economy and can bombard enemies from orbit; when armies meet, the battle plays out in real time on the planet's surface, with reinforcements and abilities such as artillery and air strikes. Creative Assembly calls it a galactic sandbox.
Factions: who is in which game
Space Marines and Orks are in both. Dawn of War 4 adds the Necrons and, for the first time in the series, the Adeptus Mechanicus, and splits its Space Marines into two Chapters, the Blood Ravens and the Dark Angels. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 adds the Aeldari and the Astra Militarum, the Imperial Guard, which Dawn of War 4 does not have at launch. Compare the Dawn of War 4 armies on our Dawn of War 4 factions page.
Which one should you play?
- You like building a base and controlling every squad: Dawn of War 4. It is the classic Dawn of War formula, and it is out first.
- You like a long campaign of turns between battles: Total War: Warhammer 40,000, or Crusade in Dawn of War 4, a free mode with a turn-based map that follows launch (see the Dawn of War 4 roadmap).
- You want a story: Dawn of War 4 has four story campaigns with more than 70 missions, playable in co-op. Creative Assembly describes its campaign as a galactic sandbox and has not talked about a scripted story yet.
- You play on PlayStation or Xbox: only Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is announced for consoles. See Dawn of War 4 on PS5, Xbox and Mac.
- You want 1v1 and team multiplayer at launch: Dawn of War 4 has 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 on 30 maps. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 lists online PvP but has not detailed its modes.
You do not have to pick one: they are separate games, and nothing stops you from playing both. Dawn of War 4 costs $59.99, or $89.99 for the Commander Edition with both story DLCs; see Commander vs Standard Edition.
Questions
What is the difference between Dawn of War 4 and Total War: Warhammer 40,000?
Dawn of War 4 is a real-time strategy game: you build a base and fight with squads in real time, battle after battle, on the planet Kronus. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 pairs a turn-based campaign across a whole galaxy, where you take planets and upgrade fleets, with real-time battles on the ground. They come from different studios (KING Art Games and Creative Assembly) and publishers (Deep Silver and SEGA).
Is Dawn of War like Total War?
Only in that both are Warhammer strategy games with real-time battles. In Dawn of War 4 the building, resource gathering and unit training all happen inside each battle. Total War splits the game into a turn-based campaign and separate battles. The closest Dawn of War 4 gets is Crusade, a free post-launch mode with a turn-based map of Kronus.
Which comes out first?
Dawn of War 4, on December 3, 2026 (Commander Edition from November 30, 2026). Total War: Warhammer 40,000 has no release date yet; its Steam page says to be announced.
Are Dawn of War 4 and Total War: Warhammer 40,000 connected?
No. They are separate games by different studios and publishers, both licensed from Games Workshop. Neither has announced shared progress, crossover content or a link between them.
Is Total War: Warhammer 40,000 on console?
Yes, SEGA announced it for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the first time a Total War game comes to those consoles. Dawn of War 4 is announced for PC only.
Sources
- Official Dawn of War IV website: FAQ and Editions
- Dawn of War IV on Steam: prices and features
- KING Art Games on Steam: Official Game Overview Trailer (October 21, 2026)
- KING Art Games on Steam: A closer look at the Back to War in-engine trailer (October 14, 2025)
- Total War: Warhammer 40,000 on Steam: features, factions and platforms
- SEGA: Total War: Warhammer 40,000 announced (December 12, 2025)
Checked against the official posts on October 24, 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.
Continue reading
Next stepGoing with Dawn of War 4? Pick the army you will play first.Dawn of War 4 Factions: All 4 Armies ComparedSpace Marines, Orks, Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus side by side: playstyle, strengths, Commanders, key mechanics and how to beat each one.Go there Related guides
GameplayDawn of War 4 Gameplay: Battles, Bases, ModesHow a battle plays: base building, squads and wargear, cover and retreat, Commanders, every mode, and the official match videos.
PlatformsDawn of War 4 on PS5, Xbox, Console and MacPC on Steam is the only confirmed platform. PS5, Xbox, Mac, Steam Deck and controller support, checked against official sources.
Year 1Dawn of War 4 Roadmap: Year 1 Updates and DLCThe four free updates with their map packs, the Mission Editor, Crusade Mode, and the two paid DLCs, in order.
Card pictures: Game image: Dawn of War IV © Deep Silver, cleaned up and sharpened with AI