Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin Announced

Last week, Games Workshop and partners​ launched a packed Warhammer Skulls showcase hosted by Rahul Kohli. The seventh annual showcase included several game reveals, updates, and behind the scenes sneak peeks for Warhammer fans to sink their teeth into and you can watch the full recap here. Starting off our coverage is the announcement of Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin from Frontier Developments, a real-time strategy game coming soon to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is set in Ghur, the savage Realm of Beasts, an inhospitable, violent land where only the strongest survive. In the singleplayer campaign, the forces of Order dispatch the celestial, reforged champions known as the Stormcast Eternals to reclaim this realm. After establishing a precarious foothold in this dangerous place, their fortress settlement is under serious threat from the Kruleboyz, the sinister and violent Orruk faction who call Ghur their home. When this Stormcast detachment’s leader, Sigrun, learns about a source of arcane power that can protect against the Kruleboyz, they venture into the swamplands at great risk to obtain it – beginning the campaign’s twisted cinematic tale of desperate survival. Co-written with Black Library author Gavin Thorpe, this rich Age of Sigmar narrative is based on the Dawnbringer Crusades from the tabletop game’s most recent edition.  

The game has been developed simultaneously for both console and PC. Players using a controller will experience DirectStep™, an innovative new real-time strategy interface enabling tactical immediacy in the heat of battle. Using the analogue sticks and a few simple button presses, players can quickly cycle through their squads, issue orders and engage the enemy. This system gives Xbox and PlayStation users the flexibility and responsiveness of mouse and keyboard controls, all from a control input they’re comfortable with. In addition, PC players will be able to enjoy a classic mouse and keyboard control scheme that’s designed to feel familiar to RTS veterans. It will be interesting to see this in action as I loved the revised control scheme when playing the recent Company of Heroes 3 Console Edition.

With a diverse range of mission types and modes, no two battles are ever the same in Realms of Ruin. Featuring four playable factions that are completely distinct from one another visually and strategically, players will rally their armies, unleashing powerful units to turn the tides of war in their favour. From fast-moving flyers to lumbering monsters, mystical wizards and powerful heroes, each has their own strengths and weaknesses. Players will clash over Arcane Conduits to harvest resources, upgrade and specialise their forces via tech trees, and control the battle across multiple fronts as they seize victory.

Every unit is precisely modelled based on their authentic tabletop counterparts, with world-class animation and state-of-the-art graphical fidelity providing players with a dramatic and thrilling vision of the Age of Sigmar universe. Ghur itself comes to life with stunningly detailed and varied maps, teeming with wild, living foliage and environmental obstacles that’ll shape players’ strategies.   

Further information will be revealed in the coming months, including additional factions, modes, and features, with the first gameplay trailer arriving in June which I am really excited to see. In addition, two open multiplayer betas are planned across all platforms, with dates to be revealed soon. Players can register their interest over at www.aosrealmsofruin.com.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is coming soon to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

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