The Warhammer 40K RTS Is Back — And The Definitive Edition Looks Better Than Ever

Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War is making its triumphant return, and this time it’s sharper, smoother, and even more brutal in its updated Definitive Edition. With a release date locked in and sweet discounts lined up for loyal fans, it’s the perfect time to revisit the battlefield of one of the most revered real-time strategy games in PC history. Set your orbital strikes — the Emperor awaits.

Veteran Strategy Game Gets Modern Armour

It’s happening. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition hits PC on July 24, 2025, giving the genre-defining strategy classic from Relic Entertainment the facelift it deserves. This remaster comes courtesy of the 20th anniversary of the original Dawn of War, and the folks behind it aren’t holding back. Fans of the 2004 original can expect a revitalised visual experience, thanks to high-res support, improved UI scaling, and full compatibility with contemporary hardware. While not a ground-up remake, the spruced-up graphics and cleaner interface certainly make this feel like the best way to play the classic today.

And there’s good news for those who picked up last year’s Warhammer 40K 20th Anniversary Edition bundle. If you already own that, you’re getting this new Definitive Edition at a budget-friendly discount — not bad for a game that helped define the PC strategy game genre in the early 2000s. The game will be available via Steam (naturally), and will include all three of its original expansions: Winter Assault, Dark Crusade, and Soulstorm, all neatly packaged in one install.

A Rare Victory for RTS Fans

The strategy genre, particularly real-time strategy (RTS), hasn’t had it easy in the modern gaming climate. With the rise of battle royales and open-world RPGs, it’s refreshing to see a landmark RTS like Dawn of War getting modern love. The Definitive Edition doesn’t just polish up the visuals — it packages the game in a way that’s finally user-friendly on newer OS versions. And if you’ve ever tried running Soulstorm mods in 2024, you know what a mess technical compatibility can be with older titles.

There’s a clear focus here on legacy. As Relic and publisher THQ Nordic celebrate the series that laid the groundwork for games like Company of Heroes and the Halo Wars spin-offs, they’re ensuring that both veterans and new players can finally experience Dawn of War as it was meant to be played: fluid, bloody, and gloriously grimdark.

If you’re wondering what’s actually changed mechanically — the answer is, well, not much. This is a visual spruce-up, with core gameplay and balance left perfectly intact. That’s hardly a complaint: the original design, focusing on capturing strategic points, upgrading squads, and unleashing mighty faction-specific superweapons, still holds up remarkably well. Whether you’re rushing with swarms of Orks or micromanaging Eldar warp teleportation, Dawn of War remains a masterclass in scalable tactical combat.

There’s also no mention of platform expansions or console ports — it’s PC-only, exactly where this game series has always belonged. If you’re craving a proper RTS fix with actual terrain-based tactics and grim future warfare, this is it. No gacha systems, no paywalls, just good old-fashioned unit strategy. And let’s not forget modding support — which, if preserved with the remastered editions, might breathe even more life into an already thriving community.

Current owners of the Steam version of the original Dawn of War games may want to keep an eye out — although there’s no automatic upgrade path, the discount for 20th Anniversary owners ensures the price of entry is more than fair for returning players. For new players? The war for the 41st millennium has never looked this good or played this cleanly.