Games Workshop drops the hammer on cosplayers and LARPers right after launching its own versions; fans aren’t buying the timing.
Updated on July 30th, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest information and links.
Games Workshop just can’t seem to resist tripping over its own power armor. On one hand, they’re rolling out officially licensed foam swords and a slick JOYTOY Mk X helmet for all your cosplay and LARPing dreams. On the other hand, they’re sending cease and desist letters to the very community that helped popularize the look.
Timing? Let’s call it suspect. Here is the latest.
Galactic Armory Gets the Banhammer
Galactic Armory, a 3D printing and cosplay-focused YouTube channel, dropped a surprise announcement: GW sent him a cease and desist just two days before revealing their official Lieutenant Titus helmet.
That’s right, 26 videos were pulled from the channel, plans for more Warhammer-themed armor sets got the axe, and the community’s access to free or purchasable 3D files for custom cosplay gear went up in smoke.
Despite the takedown, they kept it classy. No bad blood, no rants.
Just a note that while GW is within their legal rights (and is currently suing all kinds of stores), the whole thing came as a shock from a company that used to promote DIY hobby culture.
And this is on top of their other recent YouTube takedowns as well.
From Support to Shutdown
Let’s not forget: Galactic Armory wasn’t ripping anyone off. They were enabling fans to craft their own props and armor, something GW used to celebrate.
The issue? They weren’t “official,” and now that there’s a branded helmet and foam weapons on the market, GW seems less cool with the idea of fans printing their own Titus-themed gear.
The move feels less like brand protection and more like clearing the field before a product launch. If you’re selling a cosplay helmet, you probably don’t want fans printing one for a tenth of the cost.
Swordcraft Gets the GW Tap on the Shoulder
Galactic Armory isn’t the only one hearing from GW’s legal team. Swordcraft, a large-scale LARP group inspired by the Warhammer aesthetic, publicly shared that they’re now in discussions with the company after apparently crossing some size threshold on GW’s radar.
Swordcraft’s organizers were quick to reassure players: no canceled events, no immediate changes, and nothing pulled mid-game. They’ve also begun tweaking their websites and ticketing platforms to remove explicit Warhammer references, signaling a bit of good faith during licensing talks.
The big concern? Licensing might mean restrictions that gut the creative freedom of the community. Swordcraft’s volunteers made it clear that they’ll walk away from GW before they let that happen.
What This Means for the Hobby
The official Warhammer Armoury gear.
Here’s the real kicker: Warhammer cosplay, LARPing, and fan-made props have been around for years. They didn’t just pop up now. If anything, those communities helped fuel the franchise’s wider popularity. Shutting down fan-led 3D printing and LARP events, right when launching official cosplay merch, feels less like a coincidence and more like corporate cleanup.
While GW is well within its rights, it’s a strange flex to go after your own hype men while asking fans to spend more on official foam swords.
Final Thoughts From Us
Cosplay and LARP fans aren’t the enemy here. They’re the diehards who paint, print, and roleplay their love for the setting. Sending legal letters right as you release new merch feels like giving your friends free drinks and then billing them afterward.
Galactic Armory will be fine. Swordcraft might dodge the worst of it. But for everyone else? This is a loud reminder: if you’re crafting anything with a servo skull on it, expect someone from GW to eventually come knocking.
Until then, print fast, paint hard, and always keep a backup plan, preferably one without a “licensed” aquila.
See the New Wearable Space Marine Helmet Here
While its true, that they must defend their IP…
Its how they chose to do it that rubs fans up the wrong way, but they are banking on new fans to relace the old loyal fans that they piss off and to a point it will work, but it makes me not want to support them and I’ve been into warhammer OW and 40k since 2nd eddition.
I will still check out the content until they go too woke (like dr who… I dropped it after capaldi) star trek (refused to watch disco/S31) and starwars (latest stuff under disney has tanked the value of the IP)
As these beloved franchises chose to alienate thar fans They have suffered the consequences with cancellations and backlash.
Now GW has decided to rip out its soul for cash and hopes to sell itself off to someone like Amazon, what will be left of the once beloved franchise is anyones guess.
But if they are not careful it will be just fond old memories and corporate corruption.
I guess Nurgle always wins in the end..
People, either educate yourself or stfu. GW is REQUIRED to do this or risk losing aspects of its IP and risk getting sued themselves when they create new avenues like Joytoy’s helmet. This is basic legal Trademark and IP defense and while no they dont care nor worry about JohnDoe youtuber taking and suing, they are worried about defending against other large companies both foreign and domestic especially Chinese based companies(which are known for this). So to protect from the latter they have to also defend against the former. This isnt a secret and GW isnt evil. Also they only came after these channels because they were making a profit off merchandising a product. These channels can still make their content. They just cant sell the plans or completed products.
Gw speed running bankruptcy.
Simple, stop giving greedy corporations you money.
The year they make record profits they go after this, I avoid spending money with them wherever I can now even though I love the universe.
The idea that GW is anything other than a money-grabbing global conglomerate is ridiculous. Perhaps, before 1986, but certainly not since they hit on the idea of coordinating all their IP. They used to be cool, but not for the last forty years.
When will people learn that Games Workshop is simply evil?
I feel gross saying this but GW is right. Galactic Armory is a good dude, I bought a Mandolorian helmet from him years ago, but he is by no means a small time creator or hobbyist, he is a business profiting off of another company’s IP. A cease and desist is the best outcome for him in this situation.
They do not care. They know cash cows will save them and their profit margin is so high they do not need to sell much.
That is the deep secret since they went public. If you have a massive profit margin then you do not need to sell much.
The key has been branching out to other media. A game like space marine 2 gets some new people who will make one purchase and keep the cash cow thinking the slaughter house is actually a party because their is some new cattle in the room.
It’s clearly about another person making money off of their product not someone at their house making their own cosplay.if youre selling something based off another person’s work of course you’ll get legal action. Article is misguided and just wants people to get worked up. Most articles are dumb.