Happy New Year! 2020 was a challenging year for the hobby as GW fortified their position, and interest in 3d printing seemed to boom overnight
We saw a flurry of gaming releases from not only the big guys, but also from tons of new miniature companies and Kickstarters again. Maybe, more importantly, it also saw the rumored ‘current quarter profits above all else business model’ of GW put to shame near the end of the year with allocations and disappointments aplenty. This led to some very interesting market plays by hobbyists on eBay, and other secondary markets as supply could not keep up with demand.
Coming in hot to 2021 will be pretty much anyone who has stock at this point to sell, as competitors try to wrestle the top spot from Games Workshop. But even with new Marines, more codex books for Warhammer 40k, and what many believe will be Age of Sigmar 3.0 later in the year, hobbyists are lying in wait until the world starts up again.
Have you tried 3d Printing, or a new game system last year? What are you looking forward to most in 2021?
The 50 Alternative Companies to Games Workshop To Try in 2021
In the market for some incredible figures outside of Games Workshop and Forge World? Check out these top alternative companies you might have overlooked. Read More
And of course, a slew of new and exciting offerings from startup and indy miniature companies as the wargaming hobby closes in on Billion Dollar sales status.
Hobby Products & Tools We Swear By
Find out what hobby tools and products we swear by in our updated list for 2021.
Our List of 3D printing Hobby Supplies & Products
Tired of price hikes, out of stocks, and scalpers? Maybe it’s time to try our 3D printing with our essential list of 3D printing hobby supplies & products
Last but not least, Spikey Bits turns twelve years old in 2021 as well! So all around it looks to be another great year for gaming, so get out there and seize the gaming day!
Happy Hobby New Year from all of us here at Spikey Bits!
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 the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of 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 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
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.
