The new Warhammer Storyforge 40k TV series may just bring in record numbers of hobbyists like the Queen’s Gambit did for Chess.
The Queen’s Gambit has reportedly been bringing in upwards of 100,000 people a day into Chess dot com. Whether they actually play much or not is still to be seen. But the numbers of people signing up for online chess have skyrocketed! And the searches for chess sets on eBay have tripled since the show has come out. Chess dot com has been the biggest recipient of new players and its app has exploded in popularity as well.
That is all amazing for Chess, but what if the new 40k shows on big streaming platforms have a similar effect for 40k?
Queen’s Gambit Effect For New 40k TV Series
Well, the first question is this, are they going to be good? With the Storyforge stuff coming first, and then the possible Eisenhorn series, it will really rely on how well made they are. The trailers for the stuff have looked great but we’ll have to see. The Queen’s Gambit has received raving reviews from both fans and critics, so while it may be hard for the 40k series to live up to that standard, they do look pretty sweet. However, if they really take off, it could mean a huge amount of people get interested in 40k or tabletop wargaming in general.
But the game has a far bigger barrier to entry than just signing up for a Chess website.
A Harder Hobby to Get Into
If you play Warhammer, you know there is a lot to learn, buy, and hobby. So while Chess was seeing hundreds of thousands of new players, how many could we really see adopt wargaming?
Honestly even an influx of thousands of gamers into the hobby could have a seriously big impact. But, for those people to make it past the first start collecting box it is not going to be easy. Maybe something like Kill Team or Necromunda would be a better way to get someone started if they see the shows and want to get into the hobby.
Just something interesting to think about, if the series gets serious viewership, how many people will actually be converted into new hobbyists? We’ll just have to wait and see!
Do you think it would be good to have a bunch of new people in the game? Do you see the series having this kind of effect?
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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.
