Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV reveals Necron and Adeptus Mechanicus factions in new gameplay footage

New Dawn of War IV gameplay footage showcases a 1v1 multiplayer battle and two playable factions: Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV has surfaced new gameplay footage revealing two of its playable factions and a full multiplayer match in action. The footage, framed as a 'Battlefield Report,' features Creative Director Jan Theysen and Senior Game Designer Elliott Verbiest playing against each other in a 1v1 match, offering an extended look at how the RTS plays in competitive multiplayer. The showcase also highlights the Necron and Adeptus Mechanicus factions, two distinct armies from the long-running Warhammer 40,000 universe. The Necrons are an ancient robotic race, while the Adeptus Mechanicus are a tech-worshipping faction of cybernetic warriors — both considered unconventional choices compared to more mainstream factions like Space Marines. Dawn of War IV is the latest entry in the Dawn of War series, a real-time strategy franchise set in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe. The series has been dormant for several years following Dawn of War III in 2017, making this new installment a notable return for the franchise.

Why it matters

The Dawn of War series has a dedicated fanbase among RTS and Warhammer enthusiasts, and this is one of the first detailed looks at how multiplayer and faction variety will function in the new game. The choice to spotlight Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus signals the game may offer a broader faction roster than previous entries.

Key facts

• The gameplay was demonstrated by Creative Director Jan Theysen and Senior Game Designer Elliott Verbiest in a 1v1 match
• Two playable factions shown: Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus
• The footage is labeled a 'Battlefield Report' and shows a full multiplayer battle
• Dawn of War IV is an RTS, continuing the long-running Dawn of War series
• The previous mainline entry, Dawn of War III, was released in 2017

Bias & framing notes

IGN's coverage focused on the developer 1v1 demonstration and the game's multiplayer format, while Windows Central emphasized the faction reveal and characterized the factions as 'strange yet insanely fun' — editorializing that goes beyond what IGN's more neutral framing suggests. Neither source provided a release date or platform details.