For the first time ever, a Primarch is playable in a Warhammer 40,000 online game. Lion El’Jonson — aka The Lion — is playable in upcoming real-time technique sport Dawn of War 4. It’s a vastly thrilling prospect for followers of the setting, who’ve to this point needed to think about what it will be prefer to play as a Primarch in a online game. Now, we’ll get to manage The Lion himself, the reborn chief of the Darkish Angels chapter of Area Marines, as he presumably swats away all earlier than him with the Emperor’s Protect and Fealty.
However how did developer King Artwork Video games persuade Video games Workshop to allow them to do what no different developer has finished earlier than? And the way did it method making the severely overpowered Lion El’Jonson work in Dawn of War 4? What does his inclusion imply for Dawn of War 4’s potential canon standing inside the setting? And can we get to see his face?
I sat down with director Jan Theysen to ask these questions and plenty of extra. We get into some severe element about The Lion, the Darkish Angels, and the place we’re at in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, so sit down, loosen up, and belief in the Emperor.
IGN: I feel the first apparent query is why did you select the Darkish Angels as the second playable faction for the Area Marines?
Jan Theysen: After we talked about, okay, what are the factions we would like in the sport, it is apparent that you simply want the Blood Ravens, proper? It is a Dawn of War. And we talked about the different factions after which in some unspecified time in the future it got here up, okay, why simply have the Blood Ravens? Possibly there may be an choice to even have one other faction or one other chapter. And principally Video games Workshop mentioned, ‘Hey, why not Darkish Angels, could possibly be a cool choose?’ And we mentioned, ‘Oh, okay, of course, why not? Cool choose.’ After which they mentioned, ‘Okay, what about… would you like Lion El’Jonson?’ And we have been like, ‘Oh, okay, cool concept.’ That is principally it.
IGN: So Video games Workshop prompt Darkish Angels to you guys?
Jan Theysen: Yeah, principally they mentioned, ‘Hey, simply because it is a Dawn of War doesn’t suggest that it may be solely Blood Ravens, proper? There could possibly be different Area Marines in there as nicely. And this was principally, okay then let’s speak about it. What are the choices and what could possibly be a cool addition? And we took it from there.
IGN: There will be a system the place you can select between enjoying as the Blood Ravens and the Darkish Angels and also you choose the missions you wish to play. How will that work?
Jan Theysen: As you may know, we now have 4 completely different campaigns in the sport and for all of the campaigns we strive to determine one thing that offers the gamers some selections or some issues they’ll do and affect in the marketing campaign. And so for instance, in the Ork marketing campaign, you possibly can actually choose, okay, do you wish to play these Orks or these Orks and so they’re combating one another. And in order that’s a really clear distinction.
For the Area Marines, of course that doesn’t make sense, proper? They’re probably not completely different targets or something, they don’t seem to be combating one another, however they’re engaged on the identical factor. And so we principally mentioned, okay, what we will do is we will provide completely different gameplay experiences primarily based on the factions, as a result of story-wise, the Darkish Angels, they’ve all the toys and all the energy and so they can principally do the huge battles and the epic conflicts, whereas the Blood Ravens are… they’ve larger issues and they should depend on smaller operations, behind enemy traces, a bit bit extra covert operations perhaps.
And so principally how this works is we now have this Area Marine marketing campaign story and there are various things occurring at the identical time. The Blood Ravens and the Darkish Angels, generally they’re at the identical place at the identical time after which you possibly can play each of them. However different occasions it is like, okay, Darkish Angels do that now, Blood Ravens do that now, who can we wish to play? After which you possibly can principally choose, hey, I need the huge all out battle battle or I wish to play this extra tactical factor perhaps with the Blood Ravens. After which you possibly can choose after which in some unspecified time in the future they meet once more, or the issues converge once more.
IGN: So that you don’t change the story final result?
Jan Theysen: The story stays the identical, however the query is which components of the story you encounter otherwise you play with as a result of the different stuff nonetheless occurs, however then you definately solely hear from it in the event you’re not an element of it.
IGN: Do the Darkish Angels have completely different models at their disposal? Are the gameplay mechanics completely different?
Jan Theysen: Typically it is all Area Marines, proper? The faction is Area Marines, however storywise in the marketing campaign, the Blood Ravens do not have entry to all the toys and to the huge armies and so forth. So their missions will probably be extra infantry heavy and likewise a bit bit smaller. And there may be even right here and there one thing that’s extra in the stealth or one thing that leads you to play a bit bit extra cautious perhaps, whereas the Darkish Angles is extra like okay, the huge battles.
However they’ve the identical models in multiplayer. In multiplayer for instance, in the event you play the Blood Ravens, you could have all the identical toys as a result of that is a separate factor. The place they differ is with the heroes. So each of the factions have two playable heroes, aside from Lion El’Jonson, who’s in the marketing campaign however probably not like a playable hero. In order that they each have two. And that of course results in various things you are able to do, but additionally a bit bit completely different playstyles perhaps. So relying on the hero you choose, in the event you actually are into sluggish progress and highly effective defensive models, then you definately may choose the Terminator captain. And in case you are extra about fast stealthy stuff, you may choose Cyrus. There they’ll differ a bit bit in phrases of gameplay.
IGN: Let’s speak about The Lion. We have by no means had a playable Primarch in a Warhammer 40,000 online game earlier than. Why are you allowed to do that when no different developer has been allowed to do that? How did this come about?
Jan Theysen: After we talked about the Darker Angels we talked about choices, what can we do? And this got here up, and it was like, we have been simply principally asking is that an choice or not? Simply because let’s make it possible for we talked about every thing. They usually mentioned, nicely yeah, perhaps? Inform us what you want to do with him after which we will let you know if that is an choice or not. He is simply so off the curve in phrases of energy degree that of course you possibly can’t actually have him as a traditional unit in the sport or one thing you should utilize in multiplayer or one thing like that. And so we principally mentioned, okay, we do not wish to make this all about The Lion and the entire marketing campaign revolves round him or one thing, as a result of he’s once more, so off the curve for that, it would not actually… I imply, how can we symbolize him in an accurate method that does not mess up your entire sport and balancing and every thing? And so we principally mentioned, okay, it will be actually enjoyable, it will be actually cool to have him in the sport, and it is a huge honor to have him right here, however let’s simply have it as a visitor look. And so in the sport there are two cutscenes and one mission the place the Lion performs a job, and you may play him and he’s enjoyable and he’s off the charts, however he isn’t accessible for the relaxation of the sport as a result of he’s simply too highly effective.
IGN: So that you got here up with a method this may work and satisfied Video games Workshop?
Jan Theysen: I imply I do not suppose we actually needed to persuade them in phrases of, they did not wish to do it or one thing. It was extra like, okay, it clearly could be a cool factor for gamers to have it in the sport, however let’s be sure that we get it proper. And so if we now have the Lion in the sport, okay, how would he play? What occurs? Is he one-shotting every thing and the way is that this attention-grabbing? And so we got here up with this concept that — with out spoiling something — it is principally the Darkish Angels and the Blood Ravens did every thing they may to cease the unhealthy factor from occurring, after which at the very finish there may be simply one thing they can not overcome. And that could be a huge entrance for the Lion.
IGN: The facility units of the Primarchs are one of the most debated elements of 40K lore. Followers love pitting the Primarchs in opposition to one another and speculating about who would win in a combat. Half of what you are doing right here is unmasking a Primarch in a method, and revealing how that may work in a method that we have by no means seen earlier than. We’re lastly attending to see their energy set in motion.
Jan Theysen: In an RTS you attempt to give all the models which can be in the sport a sure character that matches the description and that works in phrases of lore. However on the different hand, it is also of course an RTS sport and it’s important to make it possible for it is balanced, and that the gamers can perceive truly, for instance, what is that this unit good in opposition to? And that’s of course an issue if all the models are good in opposition to every thing. We handled that for the entire manufacturing to principally work out how can we make it possible for all the factions really feel genuine and the models really feel genuine and so forth.
For The Lion, it is a bit bit of a particular case as a result of it is like the final mission in the sport and it is extra about, okay, let’s have a cool cinematic factor happening right here after which it is about having enjoyable with a Primarch, and we did not actually care about if that is balanced or that is one thing which you could truly might theoretically do in multiplayer, one thing like that. Who cares, proper? That is simply to have enjoyable. And if we’d ever put Lion El’Jonson in another mode, he might undoubtedly not be the identical unit that he’s in the marketing campaign.
IGN: Did you concentrate on maintaining this underneath wraps so gamers might uncover it for themselves at the finish of the marketing campaign? You’re going out now earlier than the sport comes out and also you’re truly speaking about it.
Jan Theysen: I imply that is at all times the query, proper? Would you like the huge shock for the sport or, to be trustworthy, wish to use it in advertising and marketing? And I feel that the level is that in at present’s panorama it is principally unattainable to maintain it underneath wraps. Possibly for a handful of gamers it will’ve been thoughts blowing and actually cool and I get that. And of course in the event you might make it possible for that is the case for lots of gamers, then we most likely would’ve finished it.
However in actuality it most likely takes a pair of minutes and you’ve got screenshots of that or a video on TikTok after which that was it. And so for us it was principally, okay, if we speak about the Darkish Angels — as a result of that’s one other factor. Theoretically, we might additionally perhaps have tried to only maintain the entire Darkish Angels factor underneath wraps, however once more, it’s extremely laborious to maintain it secret. After which inside minutes somebody will get a publish out and that was it. And so we principally mentioned, okay, it is most likely not value it and let’s be sure that all of us have enjoyable with it early on.
IGN: And also you type of spoiled it yourselves. Did you see followers noticed a The Lion file identify in a video? Was that intentional?
Jan Theysen: It was not. We did not verify the file identify.
IGN: I might love to speak to you about canon. So have you ever spoken with GW about if Dawn of War is canon? If The Lion is in the sport, I am assuming it is set after The Lion’s return as a result of what we’re seeing right here, the mannequin that I’ve seen in the trailer is the new mannequin. So what have your discussions been like there? Area Marine 2 is canon, and Titus is clearly a large half of the ongoing narrative. So how do you slot in?
Jan Theysen: Truly, I don’t know if there’s an official choice for that, and that’s most likely one thing that Video games Workshop has to resolve in the finish. However we all know the place it takes place in phrases of location and time. It might match into every thing else. However I am unsure if Video games Workshop says, okay, that is canon now or not.
For instance, selecting Kronus as the planet the sport takes place on. It was extra like, okay, we want a planet. Can we invent one thing new? And principally the query was, nicely, we might additionally return to Kronus and it may be enjoyable to inform a bit bit about what occurred to the planet and who gained the Darkish Campaign and all of that. And so why not? After which principally we discovered, okay, the place is Kronus? Which aspect of the Nice Rift is it on? And so forth. And so that you slowly develop how might all of this match collectively? However once more, if it is now official canon or not, I feel that could be a query for Video games Workshop.
IGN: So is Kronus in the Imperium Nihilus then?
Jan Theysen: Yeah, it is on the different aspect of the Rift.
IGN: Which might clarify why the Darkish Angels and Lion El’Jonson are capable of be there at this time limit.
Jan Theysen: Effectively, it additionally explains perhaps a bit bit why the Blood Ravens are struggling, proper? As a result of it is principally that chapter is form of throughout the place, however the guys we’re coping with, they discovered themselves in Nihilus as nicely.
IGN: Following that then, are we establishing some type of relationship between the Darkish Angels and the Blood Ravens right here that followers will get a kick out of in phrases of successor chapters? Or are individuals studying an excessive amount of into the concept that they are working collectively?
Jan Theysen: I feel that is perhaps a bit bit an excessive amount of. I imply clearly we make it possible for we symbolize the chapters and so they’re each Area Marines, however that does not imply that they essentially belief one another or that they’re nice buddies. However not less than for us, it is not an enormous future factor that now for instance, Blood Ravens and Darkish Angels are, I dunno… they will not be in a buddy film anytime quickly!
IGN: The Blood Ravens are canon, proper? They have been made half of the canon by Video games Workshop. And clearly Darkish Angels are. So I feel questions like that will probably be inevitable from followers.
Jan Theysen: It is true, nevertheless it’s additionally, I imply particularly on the subject of the Blood Ravens, it is a comparatively small group that principally exists on this planet they use as a recruiting world. It isn’t like that is now the solely factor. There may be different Blood Ravens on the market, we do not know. And there are actually different Darkish Angels on the market. So it is not like we’re writing the historical past of these chapters now or one thing.
IGN: If The Lion is in the sport, are we speaking about the Fallen right here in phrases of the Darkish Angels?
Jan Theysen: Typically we do not actually need story spoilers of course, however I feel on this case it is not an element of the story actually. There’s a right away risk and it is one thing that must be handled rapidly. And so we’re actually about that story and never an excessive amount of about the backstory.
IGN: We’ve seen the Lion put on his helmet. Does he have voice appearing? Does he have traces of dialogue? Can we see his face?
Jan Theysen: What you see in the trailer is an element of the two cutscenes that we now have with him, and he undoubtedly begins out with out the helmet, simply to make it possible for everyone understands who it’s. And likewise of course he has traces, a bit bit in the cutscenes, but additionally you possibly can play him. And so clearly being an RTS, he acknowledges if he’s presupposed to kill somebody, for instance.
IGN: So we’ll lastly get to listen to him converse! You realize what modders are going to do when the sport comes out, proper? They’ll take The Lion and put him in multiplayer or skirmish or no matter it’s. You should be predicting that.
Jan Theysen: I imply formally I most likely need to say which you could’t mod something, however I can see individuals doing that and likewise having enjoyable with it, so why not?
IGN: I would like to get an perception into what it’s like working with Video games Workshop on the subject of huge lore stuff like this.
Jan Theysen: With out going into the particulars, we now have a gaggle of individuals on the Video games Workshop aspect working with us, and we use them as this encyclopedia of Warhammer information. So each time we want one thing, we form of want a capability or a weapon that does form of this, is there one thing? After which they go away and are available again and provides us choices on what we might use. And that’s the essential factor, as a result of it is so advanced and there may be a lot stuff. And even when you’ve got somebody like John French writing the story, he is aware of loads of stuff, however even he perhaps would not know all the little particulars for all the completely different factions.
If one thing is simply not right, then of course additionally they come again with suggestions about that. However for us I feel it is high-quality as a result of in the finish what we attempt to do is to be as genuine as doable. In the previous, everyone knows that there have been video games that perhaps some models and so forth did not really feel like perhaps they need to really feel and so forth. And we principally mentioned, okay, let’s be sure that we get this proper. And Video games Workshop was serving to out with that loads. Let’s be sure that we get it proper.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 is scheduled for launch in 2026 on PC through Steam.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.