With Warhammer 40k’s next updates months away, fans ponder GW’s strategy shift and slowdown; will new factories and holiday stock ease demand or fuel the chaos?
Updated November 14th, 2024, by Rob Baer to fix formating and syntax.
Games Workshop, usually as relentless as an Ork Waaagh!, has gone eerily quiet on the Warhammer 40k front, leaving players and hobbyists—wondering what’s next.
Sure, there’s been points and FAQ updates, but codexes? New rules? Those seem as far off as a peaceful day in the Eye of Terror. While GW pours energy into smaller skirmishes with games like Kill Team and Underworlds, the question remains: What does the silence mean for Warhammer’s flagship?
Games Workshop’s latest move—or lack thereof—has left Warhammer 40k fans scratching their heads. October saw a significant update in points values, but beyond that, the universe of the 41st Millennium remains largely untouched until early 2025.
This gap in releases, as GW shifts focus to other games and their core business, has both new and veteran fans wondering what lies ahead in the grimdark future.
Here are the latest pivots and Warhammer slow-downs in 2024:
- GW says they will “sell out” of each release
- No Warhammer Fest 2024
- GW Cancels Summer Warhammer Previews
- Games Workshop hit pause on new miniature releases.
- 2-month gap in the summer for the Warhammer 40k release.
- Nova Open previews were pre-recorded and showed no new miniatures.
- The holiday advent engine preview was canceled.
No Codex Releases Until 2025 (?) Spearhead the 40k Slowdown
In October, Games Workshop (GW) rolled out a points update for Warhammer 40,000, making adjustments to army values but leaving fans waiting for new codex releases until 2025. The limited update has sparked anticipation as players look forward to the more expansive changes that fresh codex rules will bring.
GW did reveal which codexes are coming in early 2025, but fans will need to rely on these latest point adjustments until then.
For many, this points update is enough to keep the current game balanced, but the absence of codex content is a noticeable gap. GW has offered a small consolation with promises of a Deathwatch update and balance dataslate arriving in December, which will bring some important adjustments to the game.
The company’s strategy extends to expanding its infrastructure, evidenced by a fourth factory under construction and a proposed fifth in Nottingham. This increase in production capacity might be essential to meet surging demand, particularly for Warhammer 40k, which has seen a wave of new players join the fray.
Retailers report a notable rise in demand for the game, which may be one reason GW’s website now has an entire section for Space Marine 2, appealing directly to this new audience. Many core items, often plagued by stock shortages, are being restocked with greater consistency to support this influx.
Short-Term Balance and the Deathwatch Update
In response to feedback from the community (people were really not happy with the Agents Codex rules), Games Workshop has promised a balance update and an overhaul for the Deathwatch faction, which is set for December (hopefully).
This update brings hope to players eager for a more dynamic meta as the holiday season approaches. However, whether stock levels can meet the holiday rush remains uncertain. Last year’s holiday battleforce boxes sold out rapidly, and with a larger player base this year, similar shortages are likely unless production has ramped up significantly.
40k Slowdown Shifts Focus to Smaller Games
While Warhammer 40k codex updates are on hold, Games Workshop has been actively focusing on its smaller titles. Both Kill Team and Underworlds received new editions this year, bringing more energy to the faster, smaller-scale battles that these games offer.
This pivot has divided fan attention, with some enjoying the break from larger Warhammer 40k battles while others eagerly await the return of their mainstay game’s updates.
For players interested in different takes on the Warhammer universe, these smaller games offer a way to stay connected to GW’s ongoing updates and storylines, even if they aren’t part of the main 40k battles.
A Growing 40k Fan Base and Core Product Restocks
New players continue to join the Warhammer 40k community, encouraged by better availability of core products. In recent years, GW has been criticized for frequent stock shortages, particularly for staple items. However, with the recent manufacturing upgrades and increased restocks, it appears GW is addressing these issues, keeping essential models and game pieces more readily available.
The official site has also adapted to the growing community, adding a Space Marine 2 section that highlights products for new players inspired by the video game. This shift indicates a long-term strategy to attract fresh interest while accommodating the growing player base.
The Holiday Rush and Battleforce Boxes
As the holiday season approaches, fans have their eyes on GW’s popular Christmas battleforce boxes, which offer a variety of miniatures at great value. Last year, these boxes sold out rapidly, and this year’s interest is expected to be equally high (even if there are fewer boxes overall).
With manufacturing improvements, fans are hopeful that GW can avoid last year’s stock issues, though demand may still exceed supply.
This concern comes not just from the community but also from shareholders, who saw high dividends last year but are now voicing frustration as payouts dwindle and pay to the board rises. GW’s recent manufacturing expansions and a wider fan base suggest positive growth, but meeting the holiday rush will be a crucial test of the company’s current strategy.
Previews Canceled Throughout 2024
2024 brought some surprising moves from Games Workshop that left Warhammer fans buzzing. Warhammer Fest? Canceled. Summer Previews? Shelved. Nova Open? Pre-recorded and, shockingly, no new miniatures.
And that holiday advent calendar reveal? Nowhere to be seen. It’s like the GW vault is on lockdown! Some are guessing they’re saving up for a jaw-dropper, while others think it’s all about “limited” releases that sell out faster than an Ork on a warpath. Whatever’s brewing, GW’s keeping us guessing, and hobbyists are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what’s next.
Final Thoughts on the 40k Slowdown
So, here we are—left with whispers of codexes on the distant horizon, rumors swirling like warp storms, and a fanbase as hungry for updates as a Tyranid brood. Games Workshop might be testing our patience, but with the promise of a Deathwatch revamp and balance changes in December, they’re at least keeping us on our toes.
Will the new factories crank out enough minis to keep up with demand, or will holiday shelves be emptier than a Necron tomb world? Time will tell, but in the meantime, we’ll keep painting, playing, and eagerly awaiting the day when GW finally lifts the shroud.
Because if there’s one thing we know about Warhammer 40k, it’s that the Games Workshop always has more chaos up its sleeve.
All the Latest Warhammer Rules & Model Rumors
What do you think about the latest slowdown for Warhammer 40k?
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.
