Total War just went supernova. In one swing, Creative Assembly fired two cannons. A Space Marine focused Warhammer 40K Total War is real, and Total War: Medieval III is officially in motion. I watched the reveal hit like a drop pod at The Game Awards, then confirmed the studio’s broader roadmap. This is the most decisive shift in the series since Shogun.
[IMAGE_1]
Two fronts, one franchise
Warhammer 40K is the bold step. Creative Assembly and Sega lifted the curtain on a sci-fi Total War built around Space Marines. That choice signals scale, shock tactics, and brutal combined arms. Expect chapters that feel like planetary war, not just pitched battles. The team knows the bar. This is not just armor and bolters. It is logistics, cover, and suppression, tuned for Total War’s real time and turn based mix.
The historic counterpunch arrived days earlier. Total War: Medieval III is official. It is the studio’s return to knights, crowns, and siege towers, and it is being built on a new foundation. The Warcore engine sits under both the future of 40K and the next age of history. Medieval III is early, but the intent is clear. Longer campaigns, deeper politics, and cities that feel alive will anchor the design, with a careful eye on performance.
Warcore changes the board
Warcore is not a coat of paint. It is a strategic pivot for the studio. The goal is bigger battles without the stutter, smarter AI without the grind, and tools that scale across fantasy, sci-fi, and history. It also lines up the franchise for future console play. The team is building with PlayStation and Xbox in mind, even if not every project launches there.
Warcore is built to unify Total War’s future, from Space Marines to spearmen, with headroom for consoles and larger battles.
For players, this means fewer engine forks and more shared tech wins. Smarter pathfinding helps siege assaults and city fights. Better threading means end turns that do not feel like a coffee break. The studio is treating tech as a feature, not a footnote.
25 years, preserved and playable
Creative Assembly is marking the 25th anniversary by opening the vault. Classic pillars, including Shogun, Rome, Medieval, and Medieval II, are joining GOG’s preservation program. That move matters. These games are how many of us learned the series’ language. Making them easy to access is respect for the past and smart onboarding for the next wave.
It also sets a tone. The studio is not burning bridges to chase a bigger audience. It is keeping the lineage alive while it reaches for new ground.
[IMAGE_2]
Warhammer 3 keeps the fires burning
Total War: Warhammer 3 is not slowing down. The next major DLC, Lords of the End Times, puts Nagash on the board in Summer 2026. Expect apocalyptic systems, collapsing provinces, and map scars that do not heal. Immortal Empires continues to grow alongside it, giving veterans a reason to stay invested while new games spin up.
Nagash arrives in Summer 2026. Immortal Empires continues to evolve in parallel, so your current campaigns still matter.
What players expect to feel
Here is what I am hearing and seeing across test rooms, studio chats, and long running community spaces. The mood is electric, and the asks are clear.
- 40K needs true ranged warfare, with suppression, cover, and armor breakpoints that matter.
- Medieval III needs deep diplomacy, believable crusades, and siege overhauls that reward patience and planning.
- Modders want stable tools early, plus a unified pipeline across Warcore projects.
- Competitive players want cleaner netcode, clear balance passes, and map variety that supports tournaments.
These are not wishlist fantasies. They are the design beats the studio is targeting as it rolls Warcore forward.
Why this is a pivot, not a pulse
A sci-fi leap with 40K. A grounded return with Medieval III. A tech bed that links them. Preservation that keeps the roots visible. This is the franchise operating on multiple fronts, not scattering focus. For 2025 and 2026, Total War is setting the table for both new players and lifers. If Creative Assembly hits the notes it has outlined, we are about to enter a rare window where everything clicks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which project will launch first, 40K or Medieval III?
A: Warhammer 40K was revealed first, while Medieval III is earlier in development. Exact dates are not yet locked.
Q: Is Medieval III coming to consoles?
A: Warcore is built with future cross platform support in mind. The studio has not confirmed Medieval III on consoles at launch.
Q: What does a Space Marine focused 40K Total War mean for gameplay?
A: Expect heavier emphasis on ranged combat, armor, and shock drops, with systems for cover, suppression, and battlefield control.
Q: Will Warhammer 3 keep getting updates after Nagash?
A: Yes. Immortal Empires and live balance will continue. Lords of the End Times is a major milestone, not the end.
Q: How can I play the classic Total War games today?
A: Core legacy titles are being added to GOG’s preservation program, with modern access and support.
Conclusion
Total War just claimed two eras at once. Warhammer 40K pushes the series into a new theater, while Medieval III brings it home to steel and stone. Warcore ties the plan together, and the 25th anniversary roots it in history. If you care about strategy, watch this space. The next battles will be loud, smart, and very personal.
