The Free Warhammer Open Beta could prevent GW from getting egg on their 40k codex faces and make new releases go smoother.
Obviously, this all came about with the most recent nerf of Votann just days after release (and not even all the minis). However, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. The dragons for Stormcast were also nerfed before they were released, and we’ve seen plenty of other codexes get tons of grief after seeing the combos.
This would not only help get codexes balanced pre-release but would let people adjust to the army and help with the whole issue of not being able to update physical books (which, in our opinion, should just be more for lore, painting guides, and being a collector’s item).
Check out our full series on the Games Workshop Product Strategy and how they may be changing right now.
- Games Workshop Is Changing, Here’s Why
- The New Games Workshop Sales Strategy
- How Games Workshop Could Change
GW Current Woes With Pricing and Rules Development:
- GW is Not in Charge of Warhammer Anymore
- $200 Kits From Games Workshop Canceled the Last CEO
- Games Workshop Takes a Very Passive-Aggressive Stance
- Proof Playtesting Warhammer is a Myth
Warhammer 40k Open Beta & Codex Rules Releases
So, what’s the solution? Warhammer 40k (or Age of Sigmar) free Open Beta. Games Workshop releases the prospective new rules about six or so months before the actual release date for the miniatures etc. This would give 2-3 months of open beta to get back to GW before they finalize their new rules for whatever faction.
Instead of the small playtesting pool they have now, this would give GW tons of data to make a final informed decision about the codex.
This has a ton of benefits, such as balance, people would get more hyped for the release, and give longer lead times for people to save their hobby dollars for the book. Plus, it would help GW from having to do these early and somewhat scrambled FAQs that have been so offputting as of late.
Free Codex Rules For Warhammer 40k
Then, for step 2, they can put the book out as a free PDF when it is release time. Just like they do with the initial rules and FAQs, there would just be a section for codex rules. Let’s face it, every codex book’s rules are DOA on release, as every single one is updated significantly within 30 days (and Leagues within a week, basically).
Putting out the rules for free online would make it easy for new players to see them and probably make more new and existing hobbyists buy more armies. Plus, as a PDF, they could just easily update it, which would stop people from having to bring the FAQs along with their books all the time.
Instead of investing $55 in a codex just to see what the army does, this would free up that cash for at least a box of new miniatures instead. Perhaps most compelling is that so many other rule systems already do this; it would just bring GW on par with many other existing games and manufacturers
However, in our opinion, many customers still want to purchase source material for “their” army, which is where the next part is genius.
Games Workshop could release a “codex” that is half lore (which it already basically is), and the other half would be dedicated painting guides, army showcases, and a battle report featuring the studio army!
Taking it a Step Further
Lastly, to make more hobbyists actually buy the book in this new format, they could all come with one little sprue (with a full model on it) for the faction- just like they already do for the bigger miniature of the month releases now.
This would let you try out a miniature for the faction, see if you like painting them, work on your paint scheme, and just give you that little extra value that makes you feel good!
It would basically cost Games Workshop nothing as they already make digital painting guides and a sprue for the miniature of the month! Heck, just a few years back, they sold printed painting guides and still produce the same thing in almost every issue of White Dwarf as well.
More importantly, it would make buying codex or Battletome books feel good again. As we said, at this point, there are so many resources to get the rules for free; the $55 codex structure just seems old and outdated and, if anything, stops new people from getting into the game and existing hobbyists from trying out new armies!
Would the Warhammer 40k Open Beta Codex Releases be good for Games Workshop going forward?
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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.
