Dawn of War 4 Nearly Added Death Guard Before Choosing Adeptus Mechanicus

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4’s creative lead has said King Art weighed several other factions for the game, including Death Guard, before settling on Adeptus Mechanicus as the strongest choice for the fourth slot.

The upcoming Dawn of War 4 will include four distinct faction campaigns for the Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and Adeptus Mechanicus. The creative team said this was the first major decision they made, since Dawn of War, and Warhammer as a whole, is built around its factions and the strange, bold style that makes them stand out.

So why choose Adeptus Mechanicus, a group that has never been playable in the series before? In a recent discussion about the game, the director explained that the studio wanted a modern take on the original Dawn of War formula. That meant including Orks, since they feel deeply tied to the series, along with Gorgutz, who remains a strong fit for that universe.

The team also wanted Necrons to be available, partly because they were expected in Dawn of War 3 and never arrived. The director said this made them feel like a natural inclusion, and that bringing them in later was a welcome way to make up for that absence.

Once Space Marines were added as the third playable faction, only one place was left. Before choosing Adeptus Mechanicus, the studio looked at other possibilities and asked whether there was a faction never officially featured in a Dawn of War game that could be introduced to new players.

• Death Guard was considered
• Leagues of Votann was also discussed
• Adeptus Mechanicus ultimately stood out as the most important and fitting option

According to the director, AdMech was not only the biggest of the remaining candidates, but also the most significant from a lore perspective among those never included in Dawn of War. It was also seen as the most engaging choice in terms of playstyle and overall faction identity.

Compared with Death Guard, which was described as a slower army, Adeptus Mechanicus offered something different. With Necrons and Space Marines already covering durable, heavily armored forces, AdMech brought speed, strong ranged combat, and a distinct battlefield feel that set it apart from the rest.

The result, the director said, was a faction that felt fresh, varied, and well suited to the game’s wider lineup. Ahead of the December 3 launch, the team also talked about the advanced animation system known as Combat Director, which at first seemed like an ambitious challenge.

• The game launches on December 3
• Combat Director was once viewed as a major technical hurdle