With May nearly over, there is but one highlight left for us all to imbibe – Warhammer Skulls has once again returned to show off all the neat wargaming-adjacent media that moves our delightfully expensive hobby off of the tabletop and on to your screen of choice. A monstrous menagerie of Warhammer-y goodness awaits, with further looks at incoming titles and a gracious glut of additional content coming to existing favourites – it’s a good time all round.
Put down your tape measure, and quit licking your paintbrushes – take a moment to soak in the bounty of todays showcase.
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2:
Kicking things off with a world premiere, we have the debut trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II! An action-packed sequel to the turn-based tactical title turns the tables on the Tech-priests of Mars – the Necrons now join them as a playable faction.
If you are keen, head on over to Steam and slap that wishlist button to please the machine spirit.
Coming to Windows PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Talisman: Digital Edition:
If you are a fan of the tabletop time destroy known as Talisman, you might be keen to hear that the digital version is getting an uplift to match the 5th edition of the classic board game.
You can add Talisman Digital 5th Edition to you Steam wishlist right now, and if you do not own the original you can also enjoy a cool freebie – Talisman: Digital Edition is available for free now on PC and Mobile devices!
Coming to Windows PC later this year, with other platforms to follow.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2:
Of course it would not be a Skulls showcase without a further look at the electrifying Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. While the looking might be a tad difficult (the video above will need you to visit YouTute directly to give it a squiz) the reveal showed off the three-player co-op campaign mode, the Operations PVE mode, and the return of the beloved online multiplayer in 6v6 Eternal War mode.
Multiplayer was a secret stunner in the original Space Marine title, offering some super visceral and excited heavy armour fun – and in the sequel you can expect the PVP mode to feature up to 6v6-player action, where play as Chaos Space Marines or the Adeptus Astartes across six massive modes.
Within these modes, players choose one of six classes to cater to their particular playstyle – including a massive shield wielding Bulwark, or a somewhat sneaky Sniper with a shifting camo cloak. Most importantly however, you can also customise your giant Space Marine barbie with a huge selection of gear, heraldry and colours.
For those who truly wish to be immersed in the Emperors finest, the VR arcade chain Zero Latency has also announced a Space Marine VR experience coming to Zero Latency venues worldwide this October. Given that we are a few millennia off the heyday of Space Marine action, this may be the closest you can come to being one for now.
If all this excitement has you in need of a sit down, why not try out the Secretlab TITAN Evo Warhammer 40,000 Ultramarines Edition chair. Secretlab has outdone themselves with creating absolutely stonkin’ butt helpers, and these look the goods for long gaming sessions AND time spent at the painting table.
Space Marine 2 is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine VR – Warriors of Avarax experience will debut at Zero Latency venues worldwide this October.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun DLC – Forges of Corruption:
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun was a surprise banger when it released in May 2023 – so seeing it is getting a DLC to expand it’s pixel pounding fun is awesome. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption will add more retro-style action with new levels, enemies, weapons, and most importantly: a horde mode!
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is already out and available, but if you want to head to Steam you can wishlist Forges of Corruption right now ready for its release on June 18.
Coming to Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader DLC – Void Shadows:
Owlcat Games has announced the first DLC for Rogue Trader! Titled Void Shadows, new adventures await you in the Koronus Expanse as you engage with an ancient Death Cult, uncover menacing secrets in the darkest corners of your void ship, and join forces with a new companion – the Death Cult Assassin. These mean mothers are no stranger to danger, so I am glad that at least one of them is fighting on our side.
Void Shadows will be available soon – and as an added bit of bonus news, the original release of Rogue Trader has been optimised for play on the Steam Deck!
Coming to Windows PC August 8.
Total War: Warhammer III – Karanak:
Total War: Warhammer III gave us a look at the goodest (and deadliest) boy, the three headed Hound of Vengeance, Karanak. Coming as a free legendary hero for the game, we have been told the three-headed Khornate daemon will enter the fray very soon.
Coming soon.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – Secrets of the Machine God:
Another killer free update coming to Warhammer 40,000: Darktide in June, Secrets of the Machine God will see players embark on new mission to explore a derelict Mechanicus research station in Atelium Foundryplex Omega V. New deadly weapons await your eager hands, including some all-time classic Warhammer staples like the Bolt Pistol and the Shock Maul.
Coming June 25.
Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks:
Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks returns! After a rapid (and very promising) beta last year, the free-to-play multiplayer combat racer has launched its beta demo on Steam for all to play right this very moment. Running for the next week, the demo has seven playable deathtraps vehicles and two epic battlefiends for players to enjoy.
There is also a new game mode, known as Kill Konvoy, where two 8v8 teams each have a giant Stompa mech to escort to the finish line. Obviously, the winners are the ones who get there first – and get there alive.
Jump over to Steam and get stuck in!
Who knows when this game will actually come out.
Brilliantly, this is just a high level taste of all the killer news to come out of todays showcase, there is also updates and improvements coming to titles like Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Blood Bowl 3, Warhammer 40,000: Warpforge and Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus. There is even Warhammer DLC coming to World of Tanks! It just nonstop releases and goodness. There is a reason they call this a festival.
If you are enjoying a recently release Warhammer game, definitely make sure to jump in and see what gifts have been bestowed unto you by the Skulls Festival. I’ll be here, gnawing at my desk trying to survive the agonising wait for Space Marine 2 – because it just looks better and better every time I see it.
Did anything in particular catch your bionic eye in the Skulls Fest announcements? Keen to give Speed Freeks a spin? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.
Known throughout the interwebs simply as M0D3Rn, Ash is bad at video games. An old guard gamer who suffers from being generally opinionated, it comes as no surprise that he is both brutally loyal and yet, fiercely whimsical about all things electronic. On occasion will make a youtube video that actually gets views. Follow him on YouTube @Bad at Video Games
