A brand new, deep storyline has been created to combine elements of 4X gameplay with a combat-focused system. The evolution of technology, construction of infrastructures and exploration of an unknown world, goes hand in hand with the management of military resources, including heroes with special abilities and mighty war machines.

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius has been designed to give four totally different gameplay experiences, depending on which factions players choose. Space Marines, Astra Militarum (aka Imperial Guard), Orks and Necrons each have dramatically different characteristics, both in how they develop and expand and in the way they interact with allies and enemies. This gives the game virtually endless replay value and players the chance to play out the same experience in totally divergent ways.

In Warhammer 40,000: Gladius there is also a massive difference between playing solo or in multiplayer. The deep storyline was created from scratch to allow players to explore an entire world and lead the expansion of an empire from the ground up. The discovery of ancient artefacts and the custom-crafted quests will reveal the secrets of the planet and its mysterious history as the story progresses.

Gladius Prime is a newly rediscovered planet in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Four factions are fighting to explore, colonize and gather the forsaken relics abandoned millennia ago. Are you ready to land on this exotic and deadly planet?

Your stay on Gladius could be extremely short. The local fauna and flora will do their best to annihilate your troops and destroy your buildings, so you need to know what you should expect to encounter.

Wire Weed

These pink flowers are almost everywhere on Gladius’ surface. They are not there to be collected though! Woe betide anyone who is fool enough to wander into these thickets of brambles. They damage any kind of unit: the longer they stay on Wire Weed, the more damage they take. However, you can use this to your advantage: if you force your enemy to stay on these razor-sharp filaments while you’re fighting with him, his death will come faster.

Necron tombs

In your travels around Gladius, you’ll find these cracks in the ground with an ominous green light coming from beneath the surface. Beware, for they are ancient Necron Tombs, where legions of soulless warriors await to unleash their full vengeance on all living creatures. On the other hand, well, other grasping steel mechanism, if you play as Necron they are the only spots where you can build new cities.

Psychneuein

These Warp-sensitive creatures are a common sight on Gladius. The Psychneuein seems capable of travel through the Old One’s Webways, meaning they are distributed around the galaxy. Parallel evolution has resulted in a wasp like appearance, but a mature adult’s significant strength, speed, toughness and rumoured ability to turn insubstantial at will makes them a threat to any sentient being. Also, they can infect their victims, forcing them to reborn as Psychneuein after their violent death.

Promethium Relay Pipes

Once, these titanic heavily armoured ducts carried energy rich Promethium to the huge human cities from deeply buried auto-refineries. Now, with the cities in ruins after chaos and war, the surviving pipes can be claimed and siphoned by any faction.

Ruins of Vaul

These time-worn ruins are one of the most enigmatic mysteries on Gladius. They are made by the same impenetrable material as the rare artefacts that dot the planet surface: much can be learned merely from studying them, and perhaps they still house some ancient relics themselves.

Catachan Devil Nests

Native to the death world Catachan, the Devil is scorpion-like in appearance: however, it’s bigger than a mobile fortress with a gigantic barbed, poisonous tail. A fully-grown Devil can reach up to 30 meters in length, with a multitude of legs allowing it to move fast on any terrain. The Nests spawn these creatures on regular basis, so you are advised to purge them on sight.

Enslavers

During your exploration on Gladius, you can’t miss these titanic brains hovering around. The Enslavers are transdimensional beings are able to subdue any living creature fool enough to approach them. To free the enslaved unit, you will need to kill the Enslaver itself – a duty only the strongest can hope to fulfil.

Lord of Skulls (only available in the Deluxe Edition!)

One of the deadliest encounter on Gladius is this towering Lord of Skulls. Given life by the raging spirit of a Bloodthirster bound within its hull, and powered by the boiling blood of murderers, this unholy engine of war brings death to all who stand before it

The real-time multiplayer system lets players build their own path to victory while fighting against live opponents, time and the natural perils that Gladius hides.

Key Features:

• eXplore: Play as one of four iconic Warhammer factions (Astra Militarum, Space Marines, Orks or Necrons), each with their own unique playstyle and technology tree. Explore a randomly generated world filled with special features and threatening wildlife that can crush your troop's morale. Secure control of powerful ancient artefacts to grant you an edge against rival factions.
• eXpand: Construct cities, buildings and fortifications to expand your empire and produce an army to vanquish your foes. Harvest resources and research new technologies to fuel and upgrade your machinery of war.
• eXploit: Progress through a different storyline with each faction as their destiny on Gladius Prime, a world tainted by the warp, unfolds. In the end, when all the dust has settled, only one faction can emerge victorious.
• eXterminate: Command a wide array of devastating weaponry, issue city edicts and deploy tactical operations. Recruit hero units that possess distinct special abilities and can be equipped with items, ranging from advanced grenades to mighty relics of the past. As they become more and more powerful with each rank, they turn into true champions of your cause.

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War is scheduled to launch on July 12, 2018.