It feels like the new Horus Heresy game is dying off already, and there is more than one reason why, but not a lot of answers from GW.
GW really hyped up Horus Heresy, and at the beginning, there was a ton of value to be had with the big starter box. However, since then, they have sort of dropped the ball, and really a lot of the momentum has seemed to slow for the game.
50% OFF Black Friday Sales Put Horus Heresy on Life Support
This is not a good sign for Horus Heresy, as some stores are already discounting it up to 50%, as the game may be dying due to a lack of core item availability.
You can read more about these sales here.
Why Horus Heresy is Dying Off Already…
While the transfer sheets aren’t too worrying, simple things like Drop Pods and Rhinos have been out of stock basically from the beginning, and the Forge World alternatives for key units are just too expensive to really make them viable.
Plus, a lot of the stuff that provides actual value, such as the extra Contemptor arms (so you don’t have to buy a whole new kit), is also out of stock. While it was nice for a little while that GW went the other way and actually provided some extra value for the kits, they haven’t been in stock since the launch.
That really makes it hard on folks trying to collect and battle their legions of Space Marines.
Key units like the Kratos tank and Deimos Rhino have also been out of stock since release. So, while that new tank kit alone built a ton of hype, you just can’t get it unless you go secondary market or print out a counterfeit model.
While GW has tried to crack down on 3D printing, it’s still very viable for HH kits, and at this point, you almost have no choice since some of the stuff hasn’t been restocked for a long time.
Also, many of the bundle deals with value have also been out of stock for a long time as well.
More simple and core units that have been out of stock for months is just slowing down any hype the game had for new players. Really, it’s disappointing to see something hyped as much as they Games Workshop did with Horus Heresy and then just not have over half the range available for the majority of three months later (as of this writing).
Plus, many of the upgrade sprues and Forge World units are MTO (or just too expensive for key units compared to the plastic releases), meaning hobbyists can’t even get them for 180 days.
This has led to Forge World pieces being produced on the 3D printing side of things as well, which doesn’t help Games Workshop or local stores.
Overall, Horus Heresy may stay popular in the long term, but these problematic key stock shortages are very much hurting the games’ growth and interest in the short term.
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Here’s the most up-to-date list of new Horus Heresy Rules & Product Leaks. Click on the gallery above to see new Horus Heresy models and rules rumors!
- 4 New Plastic Horus Heresy Starter Box Sets
- All the Horus Heresy New Models & Rules
- Horus Heresy Legion Rules
- Horus Heresy Weapon & Unit Rules
All the Newest GW Model & Rules Previews
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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.
