Games Workshop tells their side of the Ukrainian Warhammer Drama after online comments were getting kinda wild.
Games Workshop quietly dropped a statement about ending their contract with their Ukrainian publisher (Molfar) for Black Library novels just before their big Warhammer 40k reveals at their summer preview.
So what’s really happening? Who is at fault, and is it all about money again with Games Workshop? Let’s break it down.
A Whole Lot of Words, Not a Lot of Clarity
GW’s announcement was polite but vague. They made it clear that they’re no longer working with their previous Ukrainian publishing partner but stopped short of explaining why. Instead, they tossed in a line about this being a “considered, honest, and only explanation.”
They also reassured everyone that they’re still selling Warhammer miniatures into Ukraine and plan to keep doing so. So no, this isn’t a repeat of their 2022 decision to stop all sales into Russia; this is something else entirely.
A Goodbye That Hurts
Ukrainian publisher Moflar had this to say about the cancellation of their contract with GW:
Warhammer is a goodbye that hurts
Unfortunately, the Warhammer universe will no longer be among our editions. The Games Workshop company announced the termination of cooperation with us.We’d like to sweeten this news.. But it’s not possible.This decision came as an unexpected blow to the entire team. Many books have already been translated and waited for their turn in print. Some were planning to be republished, because so many more readers were only preparing to begin their journey to the Emperor with our books.This one hurts. We are the wild fans of this universe. Many of us have assembled armies, painted hundreds of miniatures, nights spent in battles.We were burning this case and put all our soul in order to represent Warhammer worthy on the Ukrainian market.And in spite of everything, we’re holding on. How faithful are the sons and daughters of the Emperor (although yes – the tear does come in the eye )It’s a going away sale!Until January 14, there is a -30% discount on all books from the Warhammer universe. After this day we stop selling these editions permanently.
We thank you. For every page that you read. For being with us, supporting, playing, arguing and criticizing.You are our Golden Throne. You are our strength.There are new stories to come.
What’s Likely Happening?
The most likely scenario? Money.
GW is a business first, hobby second, and every decision they make boils down to one thing: profits. When they pull a license like this, it’s usually because the current deal isn’t making them enough money, or they think they can handle it better themselves. Still, hobbyists are not happy about it.
We’ve seen them do this before with Warhammer TTRPGs, pulling a license from one publisher only to hand it off to another or bring it in-house. So this could simply be them clearing the way for a new publisher or maybe preparing to publish Black Library books in Ukraine directly.
Could This Be the End of Black Library in Ukraine?
If GW doesn’t line up a new Ukrainian publisher, the reason probably comes down to cold, hard cash: not enough sales to justify the effort. Publishing translated novels isn’t cheap, and if the market isn’t giving them a good return, they’re not going to keep doing it just for goodwill.
That’s business as usual for GW; they’ll keep supporting what works, even if it’s a low-profit product (Warhammer+ anyone?). But if the numbers aren’t adding up, they’re not going to hang around.
What This Means for GW Hobbyists in Ukraine
For Ukrainian Warhammer fans, it’s frustrating but not catastrophic.
GW is still selling miniatures, and the game itself isn’t going anywhere. The main impact is on access to localized Black Library novels, and whether those will return depends on whether GW can find a new partner or decides to publish them directly.
They’re actively inviting Ukrainian publishers to reach out, so there’s at least a possibility that Black Library books will come back in Ukrainian in the future.
Final Thoughts
It seems like, despite the best efforts of bad actors on Reddit, etc, this isn’t about politics; it’s about business. GW’s always going to follow the money, and that’s probably all this boils down to.
If you’re in Ukraine and want to read Black Library novels in Ukrainian, this is your sign to keep an eye out for updates, and maybe even send a few friendly nudges to publishers you’d like to see take this on.
See the Latest GW Financial Situation Here
