The grimdark far future is marching onto the Total War battlefield, and at the PC Gaming Show 2026 we finally got a proper look at how. Creative Assembly and SEGA pulled back the curtain on Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000, pairing fresh in-development gameplay with a behind-the-scenes studio deep dive — and confirming that a closed beta is coming later this year.
After three games and the better part of a decade spent in the fantasy world of Warhammer, Creative Assembly is making its boldest setting change yet: trading swords and sorcery for bolters and chainswords. It is the studio’s first step into the 41st millennium, and the showcase made clear just how much of the Total War formula is being rebuilt to fit it.
Astra Militarum versus Orks
The headline gameplay slice put the Astra Militarum against a green tide of Orks on the Shattered Expressway — a war-torn stretch of a polluted Imperial world. It is a setting tailor-made to show off scale and destruction: ranged firepower, entrenched positions and the kind of grinding attrition that defines 40K, all running on the colossal real-time battles Total War is known for.
A galaxy-spanning sandbox
The development team spoke about bringing the science-fantasy universe of Warhammer 40,000 to life on a galactic scale — from sandbox-driven campaigns to the diverse worlds and distinct factions that define the era. Translating Total War’s turn-based grand strategy from a map of provinces to a map of star systems is a tall order, and the studio is clearly treating this as more than a reskin of WARHAMMER III.
How to get in early
Most importantly for the faithful: Creative Assembly confirmed a closed beta will run later this year, with sign-ups open now via the official Total War website. With more than a million wishlists already racked up on Steam, demand is clearly there — and the beta should give the studio the early feedback it needs before committing to a launch window.
(The video above is the game’s official announce trailer; the new gameplay was shown live during the PC Gaming Show broadcast.) There is still no firm release date, but between the playable footage, the candid developer chat and an imminent beta, Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 has gone from a tantalizing logo to a game with real shape. The Emperor protects — and, evidently, so does Creative Assembly’s back catalogue of strategy expertise.
