The first shots have been fired in the conflict that will change the future of mankind. Brother Legions of Space Marines taking arms against one another. The noble Ultramarines are betrayed on Calth by the zealous Word Bearers bent on tearing down the Imperium. A dark ritual ignites the system’s star, sending both Legions underground to battle for their honor, their belief, the fate of the Imperium, or just to survive.

The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth is a game of turn-based skirmishes between the genetically altered warriors of the 31st Millennium, The Adeptus Astartes. In the campaign, players control units of Space Marine Legionnaires, guiding them through the underground arcologies of Calth. Fight alongside units of Ultramarines ranging from basic Legionnaires, Veterans, and Sergeants, to elite units of Terminators, and the most venerable Contemptor Dreadnought. Dispatch the foul heretics of the Word Bearers using a mighty arsenal, from the ranged accuracy of Bolters, Plasma Guns, Flamers, and Rocket Launchers, to the close combat might of Chainswords, Power Fists, and Lightning Claws.

The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth also includes several Multiplayer maps allowing players to fight as Ultramarines or Word Bearers in either objective based missions or deathmatch. Bring the full arsenal of your chosen Legion to bear against friends with private matches or against opponents across the world with built in matchmaking. Multiplayer mode is available to both PC and VR players, allowing both formats to play against one another.

As avid Warhammer 40,000 tabletop gamers, Steel Wool Studios set out to bring the lore of the Horus Heresy to life in an increasingly engaging narrative. Fans around the world can be immersed in the setting as if they were really there and master the ultimate living battlefield in a “human-scale” interactive experience.

Steel Wool Studios is thrilled to announce the release of The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth, now live on Steam Early Access ($29.99), the first Warhammer 40k game that challenges you to command Ultramarine Legionnaires and defend the Imperium in larger-than-life Virtual Reality.

Early Access unfolds the devious initial chapter of a sprawling five-part campaign. Single-player mode includes a five-map narrative where players control units of Space Marine Legionaries and guide them through the underground arcologies of Calth. PvP Multiplayer has four maps and two play modes (Deathmatch and Objective Based). Pick your side and play either as the Ultramarines or the traitorous Word Bearers. Proceeding updates to include new chapters with new maps, weapons, abilities and units.  

“Steam Early Access lets us roll out an evolving narrative and tons of gameplay depth and strategies over the coming months,” said Joshua Qualtieri, Co-Founder and Head of Development at Steel Wool Studios. “And, it gives us the chance to embrace the feedback from core-Warhammer gamers. We’ve already made significant upgrades from the support of our Live Alpha program, including speeding up the gameplay, new unit commands that includes shooting while moving abilities, and visual and UX enhancements to the PC mode.”

Key Features:

• Original Horus Heresy Narrative: Set in the 31st Millennium on the planet of Calth, Magos Ohmnal Sarc commands a unit of Ultramarines. When he discovers corrupted data in the noosphere, Sarc is confronted with a faction of aggressive Word Bearers and a devastating plot of corruption within the Imperium. Developed by Black Library author, Rob Sanders, out-wit a plot that introduces untold threats and schemes against the Emperor.
• Single-Player Campaign: 24 combat scenarios exploring the conflict between two factions of Space Marines. The story progresses linearly and each level presents unique challenges intertwined with the drama of the narrative. 
• A Living Battlefield: While players decide on their next action or wait on their opponent, the world around them continues to animate and fight. 
• Multiplayer Skirmish Mode: Players can choose between the Ultramarine and Word Bearer factions. Units include Legionnaires, Terminators, Dreadnoughts and a cast of characters armed with everything from Bolters to multi-meltas to assault cannons. More character classes will be added up until the final game release.
• VR Mode: The “human-scale” view of Space Marine combat gives the player the feeling of being on the battlefield during 40k action. A world first VR game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
• Cross-Platform Multiplayer Matchmaking: Play on either gaming PC, HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. As a turn-based game, PC versus VR provides no gameplay advantages, only differing user experiences of the world.

Experience The Horus Heresy with an original narrative, characters and conflict from esteemed Black Library author, Rob Sanders. Horus Heresy fans around the world can finally feel like they are really there and master the ultimate living battlefield in a “human-scale” interactive experience.