November Wargaming Briefing: From the 500 Worlds to the Koprulu Sector
You might think things would start to quiet down as we approach the end of the year, but the wargaming world clearly didn’t get the memo.
Between major roadmap reveals from Warhammer Live and the pre-holiday rush of releases, the industry is sprinting toward the finish line of 2025. It’s been a big month for news, so if you missed the headlines while trying to clear your backlog, don’t worry.
We’ve sifted through the noise to bring you the updates that actually matter. Here is your November briefing.
And also, you can listen about everything with our commentary in our recent podcast.
Between Coats: Our Little Journalism Corner
Essen Spiel Report: Starcraft and other unique wargames.
We got back from Essen Spiel, and if there is one takeaway, it’s this: the future of our hobby is incredibly bright. We sat down with over a dozen developers to see what’s coming next, but…
…the undisputed king of the show was Archon Studio’s StarCraft: Tabletop Miniatures Game.
Starcraft will have a direct-to-retail launch coming in early 2026. That shows a massive amount of confidence from Archon (it will be their first big project not founded from crowdfunding) And honestly?
They’ve earned it. The miniatures present the detail which rivals Games Workshop’s best. But it’s the rules that really hooked us.
Archon has designed this game to fix the biggest issues in wargaming: the “Alpha Strike” and the feeling that you’ve lost by Turn 2. They use a brilliant “Supply” mechanic where dead units free up resources to deploy fresh reinforcements, meaning you are never truly “tabled” and always in the fight. Combined with a “Fog of War” system where half your army starts in hidden reserve, it captures the feel of an RTS perfectly. It feels like a modern, necessary evolution of the genre.
StarCraft was the headliner, but the indie scene was on fire with unique ideas. We saw The Drowned Earth, which pitched us on “Parkour and Dinosaurs” with amazing flexible resin models.
We played Ascending Fate, a bold sci-fi skirmish that is 100% diceless, relying on “called shot” mind games instead of RNG. We checked out Malediction, a smart hybrid of Magic: The Gathering and wargaming where buying a faction deck gets you the STLs for free. And finally, we survived the horde in Arena Battles One, a PvPvE game where you have to fight your opponent and AI-controlled zombies simultaneously.
It is an incredible time for innovation in the hobby. We went deep into all 12 games we found at the show: you can check out our full report and interviews with game designers here.
The Atomic Renaissance: Why We Are Hyped for AMG’s Roadmap
If you had any doubts about the future of Star Wars: Legion, the recent Ministravaganza should put them to rest. Since Atomic Mass Games took the reins, the game has been living through a total rebirth, and 2026 looks like their strongest year yet.
We’re seeing a flood of new plastic kits: from Thrawn and Director Krennic to the Separatist Wheel Bikes and mercenary pirates. Rebels got new Han and Luke models, Separatists and Galactic Republic got their Jedi/Sith leaders. Every faction basically received new units. It all proves AMG actively evolves SW Legion.
Then there is Star Wars: Shatterpoint. We play this a lot in the studio, it’s one of our most favourite games here. It is the most accessible, easy-to-learn skirmish on the market right now. The new roadmap is massive, bringing many kits from the newest films and series: Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati from Ahsoka, kicking off the Sequel Trilogy era with Rey and Poe.
And if Star Wars isn’t your niche? Marvel: Crisis Protocol shares that same cinematic DNA and just dropped its own bombshells: Kang the Conqueror, a massive X-Men vs. Sentinels narrative campaign, and the return of the Infinity Gems.
Atomic Mass Games is firing on all cylinders right now. If you like wargaming and Star Wars, or Superheroes (why not both) there has never been a better time to jump in.
September Warhammer News Summary
This month, all eyes were on the World Championships preview. Here is the full breakdown of what you need to know: in text format, and as a video with our commentary.
Captain Titus Returns
The hero of Space Marine 2 is back in miniature form, promoted to Captain of the 2nd Company. He kicks off the massive new “500 Worlds” narrative campaign against a rising Necron threat.
Xenos Reinforcements
The Leagues of Votann get a “Waaaghbreaker” Kâhl, the T’au receive a “Twin Lance” battlesuit duo, and the Tyranids get a lash-whip wielding Prime.
The Garden Blooms
Age of Sigmar sees a massive Maggotkin of Nurgle refresh. The lineup includes an awesome new Festus the Leechlord, heavy cavalry (Sloven Knights), and the glorious return of plastic Pestigors.
Warhammer Quest Returns
A new, self-contained dungeon crawler, Darkwater, pits a party of Order heroes against Nurgle in the Realm of Life.
The Dragon Awakens
The Old World isn’t slowing down. Grand Cathay receives a huge wave of plastic, including Astromancers and devastating new gun teams in the “Defenders of the Great Bastion” army box.
Heresy in Plastic
The Age of Darkness expands with highly anticipated kits. The Mechanicum gets Battle-Pilgrims and Vultarax drones, while Marines finally receive plastic Cataphractii Terminators and MkIII Breachers.
Tiny Titans
Legions Imperialis grows with new Saturnine Terminators and a wave of super-heavy tanks like the Fellblade and Glaive, all featured in the upcoming The Ruin of the Salamanders book.
Necromunda’s End Game
The Spire of Primus book introduces a mysterious new power player, Ozostium Aranthus, alongside new Palanite Justicars and Ironhead Squat leaders.
So, that’s the big picture for November.
A return of a 40k legend, a massive Nurgle refresh, and plastic Breachers finally becoming a reality. Now, let’s get into the deeper cuts.
Other Wargaming News
Archon Studio Q4: Caves, Goblins, and Preternia
Archon Studio has unleashed a huge wave of releases to close out 2025, focusing heavily on immersive underground terrain and new monsters for Dungeons & Lasers, alongside a new expansion for Masters of the Universe.
New Rocky Caves, blood-stained Goblin Lairs, and creepy Spider Nests are hitting shelves in both pre-painted and unpainted formats. To inhabit them, they’ve released a host of new monsters, including a Minotaur, a Goblin Warband, and the Spider Matriarch. Meanwhile, Masters of the Universe travels to the past with the Preternian Heroes wave.
And here is a little insider secret: we painted 90% of the models you see on these new boxes right here in the studio. So if you pick one up, you’re looking at our brushwork!
Kings of War: Mechanical Wings & Sea Kings
Mantic Games dropped some new minis at their Open Day. The Halflings are getting Ej Drakon Riders – drakons nursed back to health with mechanical wings for aerial scouting (and inevitable arson).
If you prefer your fire support grounded, there’s the Swamp Belcher, a flightless, fungi-addled drakon that acts like a living flamethrower. It feels very Pratchet’s Discworld and completely dangerous for everyone involved.
Conquest: Summer’s Grace & Winter’s Wrath
Para Bellum is doubling down on the uncanny looks of the Weaver Courts with two new kits. Representing the Court of Summer, the Scalie Dancers are insect-like “glass cannons,” wielding whip-swords to slice through light infantry with elegance.
In stark contrast, the Court of Winter unleashes the Gemred Knights. These are heavily armored battering rams, ruthless cavalry designed to charge in and crush formations with pure force. It’s a perfect showcase of the faction’s deadly versatility.
Corvus Belli: Achilles Defects & Fantasy Knights Arrive
Corvus Belli is making huge waves across both its universes this month. In Infinity, they’ve dropped a massive lore bomb: Achilles, the legendary hero, has defected from ALEPH to join the Next Wave faction. He arrives with a new sculpt, accompanied by Haqqislam’s Zeybek Aero-unit, the JSA Oban Alpha Pack, and the versatile Anaconda TAG Squadron.
Meanwhile, the fantasy battles of Warcrow are getting tactically deeper. The Sÿenann elves receive a teleporting leader, Aileen Cethir Wynn, and ambushing Shadows. In contrast, the Feudom gets the tanky, heavily armored Foot Knights, while the Scions of Yaldabaoth unleash the harassing Liberated infantry.
From the News Feed to Your Tabletop
November delivered an absolute avalanche of reveals, setting the stage for a massive 2026. Whether you are hyping yourself up for the return of Captain Titus in the “500 Worlds” campaign , planning a disgusting new Maggotkin list , or preparing for the “rebirth” of Star Wars: Legion with hard plastic kits, the roadmap is incredibly exciting.
However, seeing all these amazing new releases can be daunting when you look at the grey plastic already sitting on your shelf. You want to command these new forces on the tabletop, not let them become another project in the “pile of shame.”
That is where we come in.
You focus on the strategy and securing the pre-orders; we will handle the painting. Whether it’s a squad of the new 2nd Company Marines or a full StarCraft starter set, we can get your new projects ready for the table. Send us a message, and let’s start planning your 2026 army today.
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