It looks like the 40k app will be the only way to get digital 40k Codexes as GW has said there will be no separate releases planned for them!
Warhammer Community came out with a post talking about the codes in every physical codex for app access. Then later on a Facebook post, while answering some questions, said there will be no separate digital releases. If you’ve been using the digital codex downloads for play, change is coming soon!
Moving forward you will have to buy the physical book which will contain a code to the app. So you won’t need to subscribe to the app to get your rules, but, no plans at all for separate digital downloads.
While having everything in one place on the app sounds like a good thing, it just hasn’t worked very well so far. If it was working well and easy to use, this would be a great thing. They could instantly update all FAQ’s and rules so that the app would be the only thing you need to play. So we’re not against the app, we just want it to work!
They are really pushing the app hard, so we don’t understand why it still has so many issues… Like the iOS version being down for days due to a recent IOS update.
RIP Digital 40k Codexes (lol)
Here it is from them. No plans at all to release them. Again, if the app was working (and it may be by the time the books start coming out) this wouldn’t be so bad. But the track record hasn’t given us a ton of hope so far. If you want to see some of the snafus we’ve already seen, check out the earlier coverage on the app.
They then doubled down on the sentiment and said there will not be separate digital releases at all. Who knows though, just because they say it doesn’t mean they won’t change their minds later. Looks like everyone will have to buy the physical book if you want the codex.
Could it Make the Game Easier to Play?
While it hasn’t worked well so for, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t streamline play. If everything was working in the app and they actually updated the FAQ’s, points, and rules as they happened, it could make it all easier. Imagine, no buying or looking around for FAQ’s, Chapter Approved, or random changes. It would honestly be super nice. If you could just look in the app when you hear about the changes and get them all, it would be awesome.
Pushing Everyone to the App
It does seem strange though not to have any digital releases. Because once the digital version is made it’s like free money for GW. If you’ve been a fan of only the digital downloads, you’re going to have to adjust to the app. We’ll have to see how it plays out, but if they get their stuff together and get the app working as promised, it will be nice.
Curiously though it looks like digital Battletomes for Age of Sigmar are still a thing (at least for now).
Do you think this is a good move to try and have everything in one place? Did you use only the digital downloads to play?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
