The Galaxy Burns Brighter Than Ever
It is the next Games Workshop preview in 2025, and folks, the hobby just got a whole lot more expensive… in the best possible way. Seven game systems, dozens of new models, and enough plastic crack to keep us all busy until the heat death of the universe.
Let me be straight with you – this might be one of the solid previews GW has dropped in. Every system got not only something, but a lot.
There is even a new faction in AoS!
But first things first, lets jump straight into 40k!
Games Workshop Preview 2025: All New Releases
Leagues of Votann: The Squats Strike Back
The Leagues of Votann finally get their massive expansion. The new arrivals opens Buri Aegnirsson – a named Tyranid hunter covered in bio-trophies and wielding xenos-specific weaponry. The Cthonian Earthshaker artillery brings Dark Age siege power, while the new Codex introduces “Yield Points” – tracking how efficiently your Kin strip-mine the battlefield for profit.
About damn time. Votann launched strong then… crickets.
The Earthshaker looks properly chunky – like someone welded a mining rig to a howitzer and called it a day. That’s exactly the vibe these space dwarfs needed. The Yield Points mechanic sounds like it could either be brilliant or unnecessarily fiddly – we’ll see which way it lands.
New Combat Patrol box coming too. If you’ve been sitting on that Votann army idea, now’s the time to dig deep into those holds and bring out the good stuff.
Kill Team: Tomb World – Where Death is Optional
31 miniatures before terrain. Deathwatch brings 10 customizable operatives (pick 5 from 11) plus a Gravis-armored beast. Necrons counter with Tomb Crawlers and respawning Macrocyte Warriors that keep coming back throughout the game.
This is how you do Kill Team. The respawning Necron mechanics alone sell this box – finally, Necrons that actually feel like the implacable horror they’re supposed to be. Deathwatch getting proper customization options instead of “here’s your predetermined squad” shows GW listened to feedback.
The Somneft tomb world terrain rebuilds itself mid-game. Maintenance drones repair walls. Teleportation pads redeploy troops. For anyone planning to run elite xenos-hunters through self-repairing death traps, getting on those commission schedules early means your kill team hits the table with proper battle damage and glowing necrodermis effects while others scramble with grey plastic.
Champions of the First Founding: Legends Reborn
Five legendary heroes return. Vulkan He’stan – Spear of Vulkan, drake scales, flame weapons everywhere. Darnath Lysander in Terminator armor that’s basically a walking fortress. Aethon Shaan replaces Shrike as Raven Guard Chapter Master with three head options and corvid details covering every surface.
Okay, replacing Shrike is a bold move. Lore progression in 40k? In this economy?
Shaan’s model is gorgeous though – feather details are going to separate the painters from the paint-slippers. Lysander finally looks as tanky as his rules suggest, and He’stan… well, he’s still on fire, which tracks.
Caanok Var of the Iron Hands shows extreme augmentation – only one organic eye remains. Suboden Khan races in on a grav-bike with onslaught gatling cannon, initially exclusive to the White Scars Combat Patrol.
Var might be the standout here. That level of augmentation creates so many painting opportunities.
Each hero anchors their own themed Combat Patrol box.
Age of Sigmar’s 10th Anniversary: Death and Dwarfs
Chaos Dwarfs are back as Helsmiths of Hashut. The Army Set includes:
- War Despot (general/engineer/daemon-binder hybrid)
- Infernal Cohort heavy infantry
- Dual-build artillery (Tormentor Bombard/Deathshrieker Rocket Battery)
- Dominator Engine (daemon-powered centerpiece)
This is THE release of the preview. Full stop. Chaos Dwarfs have been requested since AoS launched, and GW finally delivered hard. Dominator Engine is pure heavy metal album cover energy. The dual-build artillery shows they learned from past releases too. Magnetize once, enjoy both options. Smart.
Wave two brings Urak Tarr on Infernal Taurus, Bull Centaurs, Infernal Razors, and Hobgrot Vandalz. Industrial daemon aesthetic demands serious painting chops – heat effects on daemon-weapons, brass and bronze metallics, object source lighting from those furnaces.
Death Rises Again – Flesh-eater Courts and Nighthaunts
Flesh-eater Courts get “Delusions” battle traits, High Falconer Felgryn with carrion birds, and The Charnel Watch Spearhead (25 models). Nighthaunt receive “Mounting Dread” mechanics, the multi-armed Lord Vitriolic, and Cursed Shacklehorde Spearhead (25 spectral models).
Death getting love is always good, but these feel like maintenance updates rather than reimaginings.
The Old World: Ancient Kings March
New plastic Royal Heralds (foot/mounted options) and Liche Priests (twin pack) lead the return. Two Arcane Journals expand lore: “War of Settra’s Fury” covers Border Princes campaigns, “Dawn of the Storm Dragon” details Cathay naval expeditions.
Smart move starting with characters rather than full units. Tests the water without overcommitting. The Arcane Journals teasing Cathay though? That’s the real news.
The Herald/Prince dual kit shows GW finally understanding what Old World players want: options without buying three boxes.
30k Corner – Horus Heresy and Legionis Imperialis reveals
Assault Marines in Classic Armor
First plastic Mark II Crusade Armor – 10 assault marines with chainaxes, power mauls, heavy chainaxes, volkite serpentas, disintegrator pistols, optional combat shields. That brutal, functional aesthetic of Great Crusade era begs for appropriate weathering and Legion colors.
Finally! Mark II in plastic has been demanded since… forever?
The weapon variety is excellent – volkite and disintegrator options show they’re not just phoning in a basic assault squad. Combat shields are the cherry on top. These will fly off shelves faster than their jump packs can carry them.
6mm Destruction in Legionis Imperialis
Mastodon Heavy Assault Transport, mixed boxes of Whirlwinds/Scorpius (4 each), Cerberus Tank Destroyers, and Typhon Heavy Siege Tanks expand vehicle options. Liber Strategia brings 240 pages of consolidated army lists.
Legions Imperialis continues to impress. Mixed vehicle boxes show GW understanding what Epic players actually want – variety without breaking the bank. That Mastodon at 6mm still looks imposing. Liber Strategia being 240 pages though? That’s either comprehensive or bloated. Hopefully the former.
Everything Else That Matters
Quick Hits
- Lieutenant Titus’ MkX Helmet: Wearable, LED eyes, €159
- “Ashes of the Imperium”: New Black Library series covering The Scouring
- Multiple dice sets and Gamer’s Edition battletomes
- Warhammer Underworlds continues steady support
Titus helmet is peak “because we can” energy. €159 for cosplay lite? Sure, why not. “Ashes of the Imperium” covering The Scouring is the real gem here – finally exploring what happened immediately after the Heresy. Wraight leading it gives me hope it’ll actually be good.
Your Armies Deserve Their Legends
Looking at this preview spread, every release demands its moment in the painting spotlight. Maybe you’ve already got your eye on those Helsmiths, thinking about brass and iron with your twist on industrial daemon-tech. Or perhaps those First Founding heroes have you planning the perfect chapter tribute.
If I had to pick winners: Helsmiths take the gold, Kill Team silver, First Founding bronze. The Chaos Dwarfs are going to dominate tables and painting competitions for the next year. That said, every release here has something worth getting excited about – even that overpriced helmet.
Whatever caught your eye, the best time to plan these projects is before release day hits and everyone’s scrambling. Getting those commission slots locked in early means you’re rolling dice with painted models while others are still clipping sprues – because your tabletop victories deserve to look as epic as they feel, and these models deserve better than bare plastic shame.
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Peace, and see you after next GW preview.
James – Content Marketing Specialist at Minis for War
