Summary
At tonight’s Warhammer Skulls showcase, Owlcat Games announced a sequel toWarhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader.
The upcoming CRPG is entitled Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, and is based on the tabletop roleplaying game of the same name by the now-defunct Black Industries.
Far From the Mighty Armies of Man
Dark Heresy is primarily set in the Calixis Sector, within the Segmentum Obscurus. These stories tend to focus on Imperial Inquisitors and their chosen acolytes and throne agents, which seems like a good thematic fit for what Owlcat started in Rogue Trader, a game that thrusts the player into one of the most important roles in the Imperium.
In Dark Heresy, you begin as an acolyte of the Inquisition sent to investigate heresy deep within the Calixis Sector. This sector is a vulnerable one for the Imperium because it’s so far away from the bulk of humanity’s military power. It’s also known to be haunted, surrounded by ill omens and dark prophecies.
The trailer, which splices gameplay segments and cinematics, appears to be in the vein of Rogue Trader. If you were a fan of Owlcat’s first crack at 40K, then you’ll be overjoyed to see the studio is doing more of the same in Dark Heresy.
There were several adventure modules and supplements published for Dark Heresy before Games Workshop and Fantasy Flight Games (who acquired the license from Black Industries) ceased working together in 2017. Dark Heresy appears to be taking inspiration from the tabletop game, but isn’t directly adapting any published works.
While the studio has already committed to developing a sequel, Owlcat is also not finished with Rogue Trader. The game’s next expansion, Lex Imperialis, was also announced. The expansion will focus on the Adeptus Arbites (Arbitrators), while also introducing new characters and companions.
Owlcat Games has carved out a niche in the role-playing space by exclusively creating CRPGs, a beloved subgenre that doesn’t always have mainstream appeal (Baldur’s Gate 3 aside) but does have a dedicated fan base.
Owlcat released Pathfinder: Kingmaker in 2018, a sequel, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous in 2021 and Rogue Trader in 2023. The company’s partnership with Games Workshop is set to continue with Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy.
