Fatshark has revealed the Warhammer 40,000: Darktide release date. The upcoming multiplayer shooter is due to launch for PC and Xbox Series X|S this September, which is later than the developer originally planned to release the game.
When is the Warhammer 40,000: Darktide release date?
Fatshark's FPS-hack-and-slash hybrid is launching on September 13th. As the developer points out in a Steam post, this is later than originally intended; this is because the studio needed more time to "deliver the best 4-player co-op experience possible". Originally, the game was planned for release in 2021, but it was subsequently delayed to early 2022, with Fatshark citing challenges of developing during a pandemic as its reason. This time, no specific reason was given other than "to make the game as good as possible".
When it does launch, Fatshark's game will act as a spiritual successor to the developer's Vermintide series. You and up to three other players will act as an Inquisition, using a combination of melee and ranged weaponry in order to take down your enemies in the city of Tertium. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide will feature several character classes, as well as customizable and upgradeable gear and even the ability to change your character's appearance. The game will be written by comics scribe Dan Abnett and will feature a greater focus on ranged combat than Vermintide did, so if you were hankering for the chance to fire up your lasguns while playing Vermintide, you'll enjoy this one.
Gaming delays abound at the moment
Plenty of major, high-profile projects are being pushed back to accommodate for more development time, so Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is far from alone. Earlier this week, Nintendo announced that its upcoming Breath of the Wild sequel would be delayed to 2023, and other major games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Sons of the Forest are also being pushed back. In addition, Russia's war in Ukraine means that some companies are deciding to delay their games out of deference to a volatile and difficult situation; Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp has been delayed indefinitely, as Nintendo felt it would be insensitive to release a war game (with a faction stand-in for Russia) in the current climate.
Luckily, we have a concrete release date for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide despite its delay. You'll be able to check the game out on PC and Xbox Series X|S when it launches on September 13th. In the meantime, make sure to wishlist it on Steam if you want to keep up with its progress. Fatshark says there's more "exciting news and information" about the game on its way, so stay tuned for more info on that as well.