Warhammer Skulls 2023: The Biggest Games And Announcements

Warhammer Skulls returned for 2023, once again providing Warhammer fans across both the Age of Sigmar and 40,000 franchises with information on their favorite games, upcoming projects, and brand-new announcements. This year, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin was the biggest announcement, taking the fantasy series into the real-time strategy realm on both PC and consoles. Additionally, we saw a new look at Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which looks to be a worthy successor to the original game, as well as new updates coming to Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.

But that’s not all. Alongside a launch trailer for Warhammer 40,000 Boltgun was news of new Xbox Design Lab controller options, and we got a couple unexpected surprises. One is a combat racing game called Speed Freeks, while the other is a collaboration with a game so odd, we wouldn’t believe it if not for a teaser trailer.

Below are the biggest games and announcements from Warhammer Skulls 2023. Be sure to let us know what your favorite announcement was, and which game you’re hoping to hear more about in the future. Games Workshop’s legendary series has seen more video game adaptations than we can count at this point, so there is a very good chance there’s something up your alley in some genre.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin announced

The first “major” real-time strategy game in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar universe, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin was the biggest announcement from Warhammer Skulls 2023. The game features a single-player campaign drawn from the Dawnbringer Crusades in the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game, with the powerful Stormcast Eternals tasked with reclaiming a dangerous realm that is under attack from a dangerous Orruk faction. Unlike many other real-time strategy games, Realms of Ruin is being developed simultaneously across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play multiplayer in both 1v1 and 2v2 modes. An interface called DirectSteam aims to give controller users a more intuitive way to quickly choose from their tactical options. Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin will be getting multiple beta tests prior to launch on both PC and consoles. The first gameplay footage is planned for June.

Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks is fast, free, and furious

You might think Warhammer can’t fit in the wacky world of combat racing, but you’re wrong. One of the goofier announcements out of Warhammer Skulls 2023 was Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks, a free-to-play combat racing game from Caged Element and Plaion. Beginning with a alpha playtest today on Steam, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks features multiple vehicle classes, including support and damage, and 16-player matches should make things pleasingly chaotic. The two modes will call for different strategies, ranging from the Conquest-like Chase mode to Convoy mode, which sees two teams moving their own convoy forward while trying to stop the other team–though it won’t be in the initial alpha test. It’s all powered by Unreal Engine 5, so you should see all the destruction in extra detail.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 impresses with new gameplay

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one of the most-anticipated games in the franchise right now, and it got the spotlight during Warhammer Skulls to show off the Tyranid enemies you’ll be cutting through. The insect-like enemies have been a mainstay of Warhammer 40,000 for years, and they recently emerged as a major threat in the tabletop game’s latest edition. We see just how vicious the Tyranids are in the game’s new trailer, which shows a swarm of drones charging at Lieutenant (formerly Captain) Titus. He manages to cut down some of them with his rifle, but he’s forced to get up close and personal against an armored variant with swords for arms. Elsewhere, we see a chainsword finishing move that would make even Marcus Fenix feel sick, and a final shot of an enormous battle between the Imperium and the Tyranids looks like it will not end well. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is coming this year to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. A Space Marine board game is also on the way, with Titus included.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide gets a big update

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide released with a number of issues that PC players were quick to point out, but developer Fatshark has continued adding to the game since its launch last year. The latest content update, called Rejects Unite, features two new missions, a new Chaos Spawn enemy, and additional cosmetics. The first mission–Archivum Sycorax – Throneside–tasks you with going into the Deep Archives to get something “juicy.” The second mission is Ascension Riser 31 – Transit, and it’s a remix mission released as part of the game’s first community event. You can unlock it after completing three challenges, and you’ll be swiping some valuable prismata crystals during a shady exchange.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide will be coming to Xbox Series X|S at a later date, which was not specified during Warhammer Skulls.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader rewards pre-purchasers

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader debuted with a short trailer last year, giving fans a taste of the first CRPG set in the universe. For this year’s Warhammer Skulls event, developer Owlcat Games brought a new trailer that highlights never-before-seen features, and announced that early pre-purchasers will be able to play a beta version soon–like, extremely soon.

The game’s new trailer shows off the Space Wolf known as Ulfar, who will be a companion during your commerce-driven adventures. A space marine who looks like he will be every enemy’s top priority when he enters the fight, he has sworn loyalty to you, but you’ll need to control resource-heavy worlds to gain true power. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader’s beta version will be available to everyone who pre-purchases any version of the game. Console versions are planned, though only the PC version is available to purchase now.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun gets fancy Xbox controllers

Released earlier this week, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is the boomer shooter fan’s dream game, provided that dream happens to be set in the grimdark Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game’s launch trailer shows off the powerful weapons at your disposal as a legendary space marine. These include the titular Boltgun, of course, as well as a chainsword that lets you quickly snap to enemies’ locations in order to deliver a killing blow. For Xbox and PC players, you can also get one more piece of gear for your arsenal: a special Xbox Design Lab controller. Teased during Warhammer Skulls, these controllers feature the blue-and-gold color scheme made famous by the Imperium, but they’re also classy enough to look great for any other game you play.

Warpforge gets a demo… right now

Warhammer 40,000 is getting in on the digital card game fun with Warhammer 40,000: Warpforge, and if you want to get a taste of the game ahead of its official launch, you can do so right now. Running from May 25 until June 1, the game’s demo features six different playable factions, including the Tyranids, who are capable of quickly swarming enemies. Shortly after the demo ends, on June 8, a closed alpha test will begin. Those who participated in the demo will get preferential treatment for invites, and while progress doesn’t transfer to the full game, those who play the alpha will get an exclusive card back. The full game is scheduled to launch this year for PC, followed by a mobile version (with cross-play) at a later date.

…PowerWash Simulator? Sure

We’re not sure who approached whom regarding this collaboration, but…sure, why not? PowerWash Simulator will be getting a Special Pack set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. We don’t know too much about what we’ll be cleaning up in the new area, with a teaser simply revealing the Warhammer 40,000 logo under a layer of mud, but it’s certainly a different thing to watch a blood-stained palace of the Imperium than it is to get the dirt off of a hubcap or a stone walkway. No release date was given, but the content will be available on all of the game’s platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.