If these rumors are true, an unprecedented late-year Warhammer 40k rules release may be on the way for the golden age of 8th Edition.
Who remembers hearing things like “…you’ll only need one book to play the game”, and “…all of the units would be great options for any army”? That was 2017, and from there, things kinda went sideways for a bit…
It’s better now, but in 2019 just to find and collect all the basic rules to play the game, will require a FAQ longer than that original 40k rules pages themselves, and two years of big FAQ updates.
In some ways we’re basically coming out of a 40k beta edition, two years removed.
Speaking of big FAQ’s, the stage may be set for something pretty amazing to happen soon…
Rumors of 40k “8.5” Edition Emerge
An Industry Insider is saying that a “new” edition for Warhammer 40k is coming soon…
New 40k “8.5” rules this fall with all the new release fan-fare, after back to school time.
Rumor or not, that is a bold statement. Let’s step back and take a look at the overall hobby picture.
Why This Makes Sense (in 2019):
While a fall rules release for 40k is unprecedented, we live in exciting hobby times, as GW continues to prove over and over again. They’ve continuously shown that things in the Warhammer hobby side of the community are healthier than ever, as we’ve only seen constant growth in their financials recently.
The 40k rulebook is over two years out of date. You can make the case that all of the relevant Big FAQs and at very least, the designer commentary needs to be “folded into” a complete rules set. In some ways we’re basically coming out of a beta edition, two years removed.
Who remembers the chart above that came out after the first codex was released back in 2017? Within months of 40k dropping, the rules bloat/changes was actually so bad that Games Workshop had to give the community a chart on which reference to use for their units.
If this rumor is true, it could line up nicely with the next big FAQ in September that can simultaneously bring all the codex books into compliance with any 8.5 edition of the game with no cumbersome catch-ups.
Great For New & Old Players
Assuming these rumors are true it could be a WIN-WIN-WIN for the Hobby. If you are an experienced player, it should relieve some of the headache brought on by keeping track of all the rules from 5+ different sources.
As for the new hobbyist, it should make the game easier to jump into. Mainly because they won’t have to look back and pick out the still-relevant rules floating around in some books like Chapter Approved/indexes. Combined with Contrast Paints for inexperienced painters, new players should flourish moving into the game!
For Games Workshop themselves, it would just be another feather in their cap of what is shaping up to another record-breaking sales year for them again.
Keep in mind that these are all still rumors and we won’t be able to confirm anything until it comes from Games Workshop. But what are your thoughts about an 8.5 edition of 40k? Would you like to see all of the rules and points reprinted under one book?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and sign up to get your free hobby updates newsletter each morning as well!
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.
