The long-rumored 9th edition of Warhammer 40k may have just arrived stateside, as something BIG has just been spotted. Here is what we know right now.
A lot of content creators keep a close eye on what’s entering the US ports for Games Workshop as of late, as it tends to offer clues on what may be released in the coming weeks and months.
Today one of the largest shipments destined for GW’s warehouse here in the states was spotted, and there are some clues as to what it may contain…
RUMORS: 40k 9th Edition May Have Just Arrived…
So essentially, we’ve got a shipment of “printed books” without any kind of title that just hit the port. Four different Purchase Orders (PO), seem to indicate that there are four separate book titles that comprise two different shipments from Chinese publisher Artron Art Group.
Now before we jump in head-first, it’s important to know what each abbreviation may mean:
- PCS = Quantity
- CTNS= Cartons (cases)
- PLT = Pallets
- PO= Purchase Order
The first shipment contains a whopping 38,880 pieces or what appear to be books, just in one purchase order alone.
Breaking down the second receiving entry from April 21st, it contains 11,800 pieces split among 693 cartons of two different titles or POs.
Anyway you look at it, this shipment is absolutely massive with a total of 68,000+ books hitting the US. Normally, we see anywhere between 9,000-14,000 books get imported when a faction gets a new codex or battletome for Warhammer.
To put it even more into perspective, these two shipments are roughly twice the weight of all new racking GW imported around this time last year to launch their Contrast line of paints.
So What Could We Be Looking At?
To be honest, we really don’t know what we’re looking at. But going on what we’ve seen in the past, this could be part of the rumored 9th edition 40k release. Here why we think that may be a possibility:
Return of the Indexes?
Remember back when 8th edition first dropped? We saw a thicker hardcover rulebook come out as well as a supplement indexices with factions bundled together. If we got everything right above, it would make sense that GW ships more of a new rulebook because everyone will need them. It would also make sense that this would be heavier than normal because we know how GW likes to throw in a bunch of lore on different things as well as include certain missions, etc.
Assuming that the second shipment (and the other half of the first) is something akin to the 8th edition faction indexes, it would also make sense that they would not need to ship as many of a single title. Mainly because so many people play different factions.
But wait, there were 5 index books for 8th, and you just said there are only 4 new titles in this rumor, including a potential new 9th Edition rulebook Rob!
Correct!
Now look back at the index book image above, while there were 5 Index books for 8th, they covered only 3 major groups of factions: Xenos, Imperials, and Chaos. That could mean that any future index release could consist of only three supplemental books total, as the Codex cycle could then begin itself again…
So what we’ve been hearing about 9th from multiple sources for a while now could explain what just hit the ports. However, at the end of the day this is just all hypothetical as we pretty much don’t know anything for sure at this point.
Well, I guess, except that tons of printed books are on the way to GW’s warehouses literally as you read this…
Essential 3D Printers & Products List
With this massive mystery batch of printed books hitting the ports, what do you think we’re looking at? Could this be the materials we’ll need to play 9th edition? What else could it possibly be if it isn’t?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and make sure you enter the latest monthly giveaway for FREE today!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
