Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Warhammer 40K MMOG debuting at E3 2010

THQ CEO reveals Vigil's mystery-shrouded massively multiplayer project will be unveiled in June; Company of Heroes Online coming west, WWE Online going east.

When it launched for the PC in 2008, Warhammer Online didn't make the World of Warcraft-sized crater in the massively multiplayer online role-playing market that EA was undoubtedly hoping for. THQ is next to try its hand with Games Workshops' grim war-torn universe in the MMOG space, though it will do so in the far-future Warhammer 40,000 timeline.

The Warhammer 40,000 MMOG will be more than just concept art come June.

The Warhammer 40,000 MMOG will be more than just concept art come June.

As part of its quarterly earnings report yesterday, THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell said that gamers will get their first glance at the Warhammer 40K MMOG as part of the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo. This year's show will descend upon the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 15-17.

Announced in February 2007, THQ's Warhammer 40K MMOG is being handled by Vigil Games, the Austin, Texas-based studio behind last month's well-received Darksiders. THQ has been tight lipped about the game, though it is known that development is led by former NCsoft director David Adams.

Farrell's promise to deliver more information on the Warhammer 40K MMOG came as part of a broader discussion on THQ's prospects in digital revenue over the company's upcoming fiscal years.

"The highest ranking revenue opportunity for us clearly is the Warhammer 40K MMO," Farrell told analysts and investors. "But we think we will have a very competitive MMO, and as you know, one of the big wins there is when you're successful with those properties, you have a long life on both revenues and cash flows. It's not just one or two years. It could go five, six, seven years. That is probably the biggest opportunity."

Farrell also confirmed that THQ plans to eventually bring Relic's Company of Heroes Online to western markets. First announced for the Chinese market in 2007, the game is essentially the online component of Relic's highly regarded WWII real-time strategy series. Gamers can compete in both cooperative and competitive combat missions. The game also features a stat-tracking system, and players are able to rank up from private to general.

THQ's free-to-play, microtransaction-supported online model will also extend to its top-selling WWE franchise--in Asia, at least. Farrell confirmed that it plans to launch WWE Online in Korea this year, with other Asian regions to follow.

112 Comments

  • vadagar1

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 5:58 pm GMT

    praise the god emperor

    this might actualy be good, cause EA failed and lets face it they suck at making games, sure they have a few good ones but only after they buy the titles and make and updated version of them OR pay cash and let other companies make them (Bioware...ehhh) so if they actualy make a MMO warhammer that is good I will try it cause I'm sick of wow and ya I'm so gona be a Librarian OR a Guardsman with a sick plasma rifle

  • jingtao

    Posted Jun 14, 2010 11:22 pm GMT

    One more day till the debut. Really hope they do a good job on the game... Probably the only MMO that I'm really looking forward to.

  • smookert010

    Posted Jun 14, 2010 2:19 am GMT

    as long as they put a chaplin in it, so i can break some heads whit my Crozius

  • osiris1

    Posted Jun 12, 2010 10:20 am GMT

    I really hope they make each splinter of a race ( i.e Space Marines, Inquisition, Assassinorium, Ecclesiarchy ) capable of multiple specialties. Not Assassins are just that, ecclesiarchy the healers, and Space Marines warriors. 40ks very nature is diversity and customization. Inquisition for life!

  • feleas

    Posted Jun 9, 2010 11:30 pm GMT

    Shhhh, no talky about Blizzard or anything for the moment. Let us just sit back and relax as we take in the glorious news of a new MMO featured after a Gamesworkshop game. *Hopes he can play as either Dark Eldar or Space Marines.*

  • Darkbeyond

    Posted May 29, 2010 7:53 pm GMT

    @DerekLee688 when Blizzard anounces its new MMO it will be a totally new franchise not Starcraft or Diablo they would never make those into an MMO i dont think

  • Darkbeyond

    Posted May 29, 2010 7:50 pm GMT

    @ThePurpleBubble that will be a great thing if it plays like Mass Effect and not WoW i play WoW and that style really only works for WoW and sometimes other Medival MMO's so if it play likes Mass Effect is has a very good chance of being the only space MMO in history not to fail epicly

  • Darkbeyond

    Posted May 29, 2010 7:48 pm GMT

    @earlthecannibal first of all gameplay over graphics and secondly Blizzard is one of the best PC developers there is and lastly WoW is so successful because of the gameplay and storey it offers so id rather have Wii graphics on this thing and have it be fun then have great graphics and have the gameplay be terrible

  • Darkbeyond

    Posted May 29, 2010 7:44 pm GMT

    Gunna watch and see how this palys out i played WAR mmo i liked it but there was not enough people playing so i quit but i still doubt that anything will beat WoW for atleast another 5-10 years

  • Domo14

    Posted May 2, 2010 1:41 am GMT

    hopefully they also make sure that the space marine arent all generic and that there are differences space wolves and their keen sense of smell and animal ferocity, daemonhunters and there super psyker skills, blood angels and there rage etc etc same goes chaos space marines. For the lion

  • SoTaRaS

    Posted Mar 6, 2010 6:45 pm GMT

    I am big fun of 40k universe and definately gonna watch how this game will develop. I am really curious how they will blend range combat with melee combat, and keep it "balanced".

  • The_Puppeteer

    Posted Feb 19, 2010 7:31 am GMT

    I've been waiting on a glimpse of this game since THQ announced Vigil will be working on this and Darksiders. Whether its a WoW killer or not I don't really care. WoW did alot of things well but I've been there and done that. Hopefully they can make the FPS aspect work really well and *cross fingers* maybe mix in some form of RTS for fans of the table top version.

    I really want this game to be good as there aren't any MMO's out right now which hold my attention, as they seem to lack one key aspect or another.

  • smookert010

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 8:08 am GMT

    @ dr_jashugan
    yes lets hope we can do exturminatus Virus bombs away!

  • tony2077ca

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 5:39 pm GMT

    cool i love the 40k warhammer stuff

  • a_tiger101

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:33 am GMT

    Oh, finally, they are dropping the medieval setting, this is gonna be great!!

  • Delius

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 10:41 pm GMT

    This is actually a good idea. 40k is a known IP, and THQ has a good track record making games using said IP. 40k could separate it's self from the pack, being a sci-fi shooter mmo. Hopefully they make a real mmofps not an rpg pretending to be an fps (Tabula Rasa comes to mind). As to all the people crying about "wow killers", an mmo doesn't need to be anywhere near as popular as wow to be very successful, do you really care if a game you love to play is more popular then another?

  • Exia2004 posted Feb 7, 2010 3:56 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Exia2004

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 3:56 pm GMT (hide)

    another MMO lots of money wasted

  • TheYokai

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 12:07 pm GMT

    I just hope to god it's not another generic WoW clone in the 40k universe. It had better have proper combat, quests deeper than "help the war effort by killing 10 grots", and some way to achieve a sense of accomplishment, like one faction taking control of a planet or territory and be able to get long-term benefits until it was forcibly taken from them, rather than just "resetting". Kind of like what Global Agenda was trying to do. I'm hardly an MMO fan, but I know it's possible for them to be better. It's just that developers always try to outdo WoW. I just wish they would try something different. This better not be a letdown.

  • i_like_laX

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 11:33 am GMT

    This is not founded at all, but I read on Relic Forums, someone had read it was going to play like Mass Effect, but maybe that is wishful thinking.

  • majere613

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 3:33 am GMT

    Warhammer Online was only a 'failure' compared to WoW. (And if you're mostly into PvP, it's probably still a better game)

    I've pretty much sworn off MMOs these days, but I think I'll pretty much have to give this a look as a major 40k-head. Going to be interesting, I'm sure.

  • szwierzy

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 8:59 pm GMT

    "The failure of Warhammer Online should have clued THQ that this is a bad idea."

    Or-- it should have clued Mythic that yet another fantasy MMO in an already very saturated market was a bad idea. There are no room for me too's when you are 11th to the party. THQ has something new to offer. If the game doesn't suck, it will get traction.

  • RossRichard posted Feb 6, 2010 8:22 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    RossRichard

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 8:22 pm GMT (hide)

    The failure of Warhammer Online should have clued THQ that this is a bad idea.

  • nezardm posted Feb 6, 2010 6:15 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    nezardm

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 6:15 pm GMT (hide)

    well after a complete miss with dawn 2.. o yeah wheres my BASE! again??? this is just way too little way tooooooooo late, when is WORLD OF WARCRAFT COMING OUT??? your too late for your slice of the cake DAWN!

  • Akiios

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 5:20 pm GMT

    There are going to be alot of fans of the table-top game and others as well that will be pissed (including myself) if they screw up this MMO Hahaha.....other then that I have high hopes

  • Steelwing777

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 2:18 pm GMT

    They can easily mess this up... They better not

  • earlthecannibal posted Feb 6, 2010 8:00 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    earlthecannibal

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 8:00 am GMT (hide)

    Good graphics or I don't buy...I'm sick of weak graphics from other mmos...they don't need to be dumbed down..let the welfare gamers of yester years die Blizzard!.

    Blizzard has seemed to set the bar for the poor loser gamer that doesn't work for a living...sad times for mmoers'

  • chaozzgod

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 7:15 am GMT

    amazing. 40k universe is a very rich world but also its onw of the most hard worlds for developers for making game.it s a risk.any way i hate wow,i'll buy this.

  • Marked_by_chaos

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 3:22 am GMT

    I think there is to many MMO's. MMO's need a lot of people to keep it sucessful and putting a lot of time in playing it. That just wont happen when everyone is trying to play 3 or so MMO's. But with that said there is a lot of money in these games and by the blood god Khorne this game will have my money if Chaos Space Marines are playable

  • ThePurpleBubble

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 5:55 pm GMT

    @Ienson
    You're in luck - I recall reading an interview quite a while ago where they said the 40k MMO will play out more like Mass Effect than World of Warcraft...
    Of course, plans could change... I don't think they will though.

  • lenson

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 4:46 pm GMT

    I tend to think 40k is just more interesting than the regular warhammer series. I'm kind of done with traditional mmos like everquest and world of warcraft though. I hope they make this game with a more action oriented battle system.

  • metalisticpain

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 4:17 pm GMT

    If this comes out, it will be the death of warhammer online, it will take a lot of its userbase because they are warhammer fans to begin with.

  • dr_jashugan

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 4:15 pm GMT

    Hope they include The Inquisition in the game. 8)

  • sergio_afonso

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 3:15 pm GMT

    High hopes for this game!!

  • bigelf72

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 1:22 pm GMT

    So extremely excited for this. If it is anything like Darkfall meets 40K, this game will be a huge success.

    Don't let us down THQ and Gameworkshop, you guys stand to make a fortune if you pull this off.

  • Gruug

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 1:13 pm GMT

    If this would be coming from anybody but THQ I might be excited. Now, I am more like...so what.

  • panospcm

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 10:57 am GMT

    I wish i could create a Parallel Universe Vortex, dive in through its wormhole core to a parallel world that, instead of WoW i can play Warhammer 40k MMO with 3 Expansions already out including the newly added Tyranid GeneStealers. Instead of a human paladin in Stormwind, I am a level 80 Space Marine leader of the Blood Angels, marching in alien places and lost jungles. Equipped with a tier 4 crimson Power Armor with several insignias and war trophies stamped on it, the drums of war are sounding. But i am not afraid, weilding a Multi-Melta Bolt Gun with three ammunition types, the enemy approaches. Then, i switch to a Chain Axe, kill a Chaos Daemon with my group and I mount inside a slick Dreadnought with heavy flamers and drillers. Finally, with the Chaos God smashed to pieces and blood splattered across my armor, I feel something streaming down my abhuman mutated spine...I'm in heaven...

  • Lifeshifter

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 10:19 am GMT

    I love the 40k Universe, I hope they do make it good and not fubar it up, Actually just got into the miniatures game and just bought a Chaos Army!!

  • subyman

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 10:17 am GMT

    Finally! 40k in a MMO. Hopefully they stick to what the 40k universe is all about and not neuter it for the kiddies. This could be awesome!

  • mazik765

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:56 am GMT

    I don't see why people write a game off as soon as it has anything in common with WoW. WoW is a great game that is well made, and well supported. If a game can capture the feel and story of Warhammer, like WAR, and throw in the support offered by WoW, this will be a no brainer.

    I will certainly buy this game, as long as they offer lots of customization. Can't have a Warhmmer universe without it!

  • iceeman

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:33 am GMT

    not another mmo, i hate to have to buy the game then pay again to play.

  • cashkilla_basic

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:29 am GMT

    I'm guessing this is going to be an MMO shooter.

  • CatAtomic999

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:22 am GMT

    God, I hope they don't make this another dumbed-down WoW clone. A 40k MMORPG with complex character customization, something like Anarchy Online did, would be amazing.

  • ketchup_addict

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:02 am GMT

    I hope this doesn't go the way Warhammer Online went :/

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 7:43 am GMT

    I don't care if it's FPS or 3rd person, just make it fun.

  • amill68

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 7:05 am GMT

    so this is going to be supported by microtransactions? ill play it if it is that and an FPS, im there

  • DerekLee688

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 6:55 am GMT

    Well looks like blizzard lost it's chance to corner the genera with World of Starcraft. Hope this one comes out polished and halfway original. Intrested to see the direction of the game if its a MMOG not MMO(RPG)

  • atopp399

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 6:49 am GMT

    If they put the amount of development time/money into this that Blizzard puts into their games it could be good. Until an MMO company does that none of the games are going to be that great. So many games are great in the first 20 levels or so and then turn to junk because of lack of things to do or lack of testing. Warhammer, Aion, Age of Conan and I am sure the list goes on. They were all fun games for about the first 20-30 levels and then bam the games take a nose dive. Companies need to put in the time if they want their product to last. Unfortunately I am sure the hype, launch sales and first few month of subscriptions get these companies enough profit on the game that they end up not caring so much and moving on to the next project.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 6:48 am GMT

    This could be awesome. I hope they learned from the mistakes of WAR.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 5:54 am GMT

    Gotta love MMO games

  • danyjr posted Feb 5, 2010 5:42 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    danyjr

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 5:42 am GMT (hide)

    Failhammer 40K Online again?

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!