Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters will pitch humanity’s greatest weapon, the Grey Knights, against the corrupting forces of Chaos in this brutal and fast-paced, turn-based tactical RPG, and root out and purge a galaxy-spanning plague in a cinematic, story-driven campaign, using the tactics and talents of your own personalised squad of Daemonhunters.

Grey Knights are humanity’s greatest weapon. A secretive yet supremely powerful chapter of Space Marines sworn to eradicate corruption, these legendary Daemonhunters are dedicated to combating the minions of Chaos. Lead your own personalised squad against a galaxy-wide plot to infect worlds with a cosmic plague, The Bloom.

Master a turn-based tactical game full of satisfyingly strategic action. Choose powerful classes, wield incredible weapons, use environments to your advantage, and target specific enemy weak points to hinder the advance of an ever-evolving and mutating threat.

Frontier Foundry announced that Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters will be releasing on May 5, 2022 and is available to pre-order now on PC across Steam and the Epic Games Store.

In addition, the development team at Complex Games is excited to reveal that legendary actor Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings, the Planet of the Apes trilogy, The Batman) will lend his vocal talents to Vardan Kai, a Grand Master and Steward of the Armoury, in the game’s campaign.

All players who pre-order Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters from Steam and the Epic Games Store will have access to two exclusive in-game items, which are powerful relics from the hallowed vaults deep within the Citadel of Titan. The ancient tome Domina Liber Daemonica is carried into battle by a hero of the Chapter during times of great need, and the words within have the power to send Daemons howling back into the warp. The centuries-old Destroyer of Crys’yllix Daemonhammer, meanwhile, was the first Nemesis Daemonhammer of its kind, famously used centuries earlier to shatter the Lord of Change Crys’yllix. Both items can be equipped to any of the player’s Grey Knights in-game.

Players gearing up to join the Grey Knights in purging the Bloom can add to their armoury with the Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters – Castellan Champion Edition (£44.99/$54.99/€54.99),which alongside the base game, grants players access to an exclusive character. Owners of this version will have Castellan Garran Crowe join their campaign partway through the story, with the powerful Grey Knights Champion available to fight alongside the rest of the squad thereafter. Crowe has his own unique weapon, the Black Blade of Antwyr, as well as special in-game rules. This edition also features the game’s original soundtrack, composed by Dawn of War 2 veteran Doyle W. Donehoo.

Grand Master Vardan Kai – Steward of the Armoury

Vardan Kai, voiced by Andy Serkis, is a Grand Master of the Grey Knights, leading the 1st Brotherhood – ‘The Swordbearers’ who maintain the Grey Knights reserves of armour and equipment. Kai is revered for his role in ‘The Pandemonium of Sondheim V’ which saw the Grand Master demonstrate his ferocity on the battlefield, smashing through Tyranids hordes and the forces of M’Kar the Reborn to capture the Book of Pandegaras, a cursed tome which M’Kar had used to mutate the planet.

In Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters, Kai acts as the player’s contact within the Grey Knights Citadel on Titan, monitoring the progress of Strike Force Xiphos and attempting to usher them safely back to bolster the Chapter’s reserves as the Grey Knights battle threats throughout the galaxy. Initially dismissive of the threat posed by The Bloom and the interference of a lone inquisitor, Kai engages with the player at key story points, as well as in a monthly ‘Grand Master’s Report’, where he will reward players successes with additional requisitions from the armoury.

Who is Vardan Kai, and what’s his role in the game?

Andy Serkis: “Vardan Kai is a Grand Master of the Grey Knights and the Steward of the Armoury. In Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters he acts as the player’s point of contact at the Citadel of Titan, where he’s in control of deploying and managing the chapter’s resources across the materium. As the campaign progresses, players will regularly communicate with Kai to request Master-crafted arms and equipment to support them in their quest to purge the Bloom. He’s a key figure within the Grey Knights hierarchy and he doesn’t suffer fools, so players should be wary of disappointing him as he has the power to restrict their access to these vital resources.”

You’ve played many roles across your career, from CGI characters and live action roles to voice over roles such as Vardan Kai in Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters. Do you approach each type of work differently?

Andy Serkis:“Personally my approach has been shaped by working with different directors, storytellers and filmmakers over the course of my career. I think that regardless of the medium, as an actor you’re inhabiting that role. You’re stepping into the mind-set and into the shoes of a character, assembling a psychological profile and a physicality for that character, regardless of whether I’m creating a voice or appearing physically on-screen. It’s been a joy to become the voice of Vardan Kai and to step into the Warhammer 40,000 universe.” 

How did you find the process of creating the role of Vardan Kai, what can players expect from him?  

Andy Serkis:“Vardan Kai is a key figure of authority throughout the campaign from the player’s perspective, but there’s this ‘master and pupil’ type of relationship which you see developing. When I was creating his voice, I imagined him as this character who almost has a face cut out of granite, where you might, if you’re very lucky, get a half-smile out of him. That being said, he can be brutal at times. I’m looking forward to seeing how players respond to some of his ‘tough love’.”

What was it about the role which excited you?

Andy Serkis:“The Warhammer 40,000 universe is an absolutely incredible setting, the depth of the universe and the rich lore has produced something which really grips you as an audience member. It’s those kinds of deep immersive experiences which have fascinated me throughout my career. Stepping into the shoes of Vardan Kai, becoming a part of the grim darkness of the far future, it’s been a wonderful experience.” 

What’s next for you?

Andy Serkis:“In March I’ll be back on cinema screens, appearing in The Batman as Alfred Pennyworth, which is truly a joy. It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to portray such a beloved character from an iconic franchise. Alongside this, I’m also working on a feature-length instalment of the brilliant BBC crime series Luther, alongside Idris Elba and Cynthia Erivo.”

Penned by acclaimed Black Library author Aaron Dembski-Bowden, immerse yourself in a compelling story set in the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000. Meet famous faces, engage iconic foes, and discover what it takes to lead a squad of elite warriors battling to prevent galaxy-wide destruction in the 41st millennium.

Lead your own personalised squad of Grey Knights against a galaxy-wide plot to infect worlds with a cosmic plague, The Bloom.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters will release on PC (Steam / Epic Games Store) on May 5, 2022 for £34.99/$44.99/€44.99.