Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Deathwatch emerged as one of the biggest surprises from the Warhammer Skulls 2026 showcase. It's the sequel to the well-received strategy adventure Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters, a game I thoroughly enjoyed for its solid portrayal of two of my favorite factions: the Grey Knights and the Death Guard.
Deathwatch, however, goes bigger and harder in nearly every aspect. As the name suggests, the focus this time is on the Deathwatch, Warhammer 40,000's mashup Space Marine faction that combines units from various chapters into a single Xenos-killing machine. Speaking of Xenos, there are now six enemy factions to face, including the Orks and the T'au. But with a greater enemy threat come bigger guns to destroy them with. Deathwatch introduces entirely new units, including the famous Leman Russ tank, as well as Astra Militarum and Inquisition units, allowing players to push back against the Xenos.
Armed with a lore book full of questions, I spoke with lead game designer Peter Schnabl and producer Iain Stenhouse of Complex Games to learn as much as possible about how Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Deathwatch will actually play. While I failed to uncover evidence of heresy, I did discover plenty to whet the appetite.
