For the primary time ever, Primarch is playable within the Warhammer 40,000 online game. Lion El’Johnson (often known as The Lion) is playable within the upcoming real-time technique recreation Daybreak of Struggle 4. This can be a very thrilling prospect for followers of this setting, who’ve till now needed to think about what it will be prefer to play as a chieftain in a online game. Now, we get to manage the Lion himself, the reincarnated chief of the Darkish Angels Chapter of House Marines, who will probably dispel all the pieces in entrance of him with the Emperor’s Defend and Loyalty.
However how did developer King Artwork Video games persuade Video games Workshop to do one thing no different developer had achieved earlier than? And what strategy did they take to make the super-powerful Lion El’Johnson work in Daybreak of Struggle 4? What does his look imply for Daybreak of Struggle 4’s potential canon standing inside the setting? And can we ever see his face?
I requested director Jan Thesen these questions and lots of extra. We will break down some critical particulars about Lion, Darkish Angel, and our place within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Sit again, chill out, and belief the Emperor.
videogameaddicted: I feel the primary apparent query is why did you select the Darkish Angels because the second playable faction of the House Marines?
Jan Thiessen: Once we talked about what faction we needed within the recreation, it was apparent that we would have liked Blood Ravens, proper? That is Daybreak of Struggle. And we talked concerning the different factions, and in some unspecified time in the future we stated, okay, why will we solely have Blood Ravens? Maybe there’s an choice to have separate factions or separate chapters. Video games Workshop principally stated, “Would not Darkish Angels be a cool candidate?” And we stated, “Oh, okay, positive, so why not?” That is a cool selection. ‘They usually stated, ‘Okay, guess what…you need Lion El Johnson?’ And we thought, ‘Oh, I see, that is an incredible thought.’ That is principally it.
videogameaddicted: So Video games Workshop urged Darkish Angels to you guys?
Jan Thiessen: Nicely, principally they stated, “Simply because it is Daybreak of Struggle doesn’t suggest there can solely be Blood Ravens, proper?” There is perhaps different House Marines on the market, too. And this was principally, okay, let’s discuss it. What choices are there? And what can be helpful so as to add? And we took it from there.
videogameaddicted: There is a system the place you may select to play as Blood Ravens or Darkish Angels, and you’ll select which missions you wish to play. How does it work?
Jan Thiessen: As chances are you’ll know, there are 4 completely different campaigns within the recreation, and for each marketing campaign we attempt to give the participant decisions or discover one thing that the participant can do or affect inside the marketing campaign. For instance, within the Ork marketing campaign, you may actually select between enjoying as this Ork or having these Orks combating one another. And that is a really clear distinction.
In fact that does not make sense for House Marines, proper? They’re probably not combating one another, not completely different targets or something, however they’re engaged on the identical factor. So we principally stated, “Okay, what we will do is we will provide completely different gameplay experiences primarily based on faction.” As a result of, story-wise, the Darkish Angels have all of the toys and all the ability and may principally do huge battles and epic conflicts, whereas the Blood Ravens… they’ve greater issues and must depend on smaller operations behind enemy traces, perhaps a bit extra covert operations.
Principally how this works is you could have this House Marine marketing campaign story and there is numerous various things taking place on the similar time. Blood Ravens and Darkish Angels could also be in the identical location on the similar time, permitting you to play each. However there are occasions if you’re like, “Okay, now the Darkish Angels are going to do that, now the Blood Ravens are going to do that, who do you wish to play with?” And you’ll principally select whether or not you wish to play a giant all-out struggle or one thing extra tactical with Blood Ravens. And for those who select, in some unspecified time in the future they may meet once more or issues will converge once more.
videogameaddicted: So does that imply you will not change the ending of the story?
Jan Thiessen: The story stays the identical, however the query is which a part of the story you’ll encounter or play by. Different issues will nonetheless occur, however you may solely hear the story if you’re not a part of it.
videogameaddicted: Does Darkish Angel have completely different models at its disposal? Are the gameplay mechanics completely different?
Jan Thiessen: Usually all House Marines, proper? The faction is House Marines, however by way of the marketing campaign’s story, the Blood Ravens do not have entry to all of the toys, armies, and so on. Their mission is due to this fact extra infantry-heavy and likewise a bit smaller. And whereas there are some issues right here and there which can be extra stealthy and maybe lead you to play a bit extra fastidiously, Darkish Angle is extra like an okay, large-scale battle.
Nevertheless, multiplayer makes use of the identical models. For instance, in multiplayer, for those who play Blood Ravens, you could have all the identical toys as a result of it is completely different. What makes them completely different are the heroes. So each factions have two playable heroes. Nevertheless, whereas Lion El’Jonson is within the marketing campaign, he is probably not a playable hero. So there are two of each. And that after all results in variations in what you are able to do, however it additionally in all probability results in a barely completely different playstyle. So relying on the hero you select, for those who’re actually excited by sluggish progress and powerful defensive models, you may select the Terminator Captain. In case you’re in search of fast stealth capabilities, you may select Cyrus. It could be a bit completely different by way of gameplay.
videogameaddicted: Let’s discuss lions. Till now, there had by no means been a playable Primarch in a Warhammer 40,000 online game. Why are you allowed to do that when different builders are usually not allowed to do that? How did this occur?
Jan Thiessen: Once we talked about Darker Angel, we talked about choices, what can we do? And this got here up and we have been principally like asking if it is an choice. Let’s be sure we have talked about all the pieces. They usually stated, perhaps. Please inform us what you wish to do with him. That method you will know if it is an choice. He is so out of line by way of energy degree that after all you may’t actually have him as a daily unit within the recreation or as one thing that can be utilized in multiplayer or something like that. So we principally stated, “Okay, we do not need this to be all about Lion, the entire marketing campaign revolves round him or one thing, as a result of he will come again and be out of line in that respect, so it is probably not… I imply, how will we symbolize him in the correct method that does not destroy the entire recreation and stability and all the pieces?” So we principally stated, “Okay, it will be actually enjoyable, it will be actually cool to have him within the recreation, and we might be very honored to have him right here, however let’s simply maintain it as a visitor look.” The sport has two cutscenes and one mission wherein the lion performs a task, permitting you to play him. He is enjoyable and off the charts, however he is too robust to be accessible for the remainder of the sport.
videogameaddicted: So that you got here up with a option to make this work and satisfied Video games Workshop?
Jan Thiessen: So I do not assume we actually needed to persuade them in that they did not wish to do it. It was extra like, “Okay, clearly it will be nice for gamers to convey that into the sport, however let’s be sure we get it proper.” So if there’s a lion within the recreation, how will he play? What’s going to occur? He takes all the pieces in a single shot, how is that this fascinating? So, with out spoiling something, we principally got here up with this concept that the Darkish Angels and Blood Ravens did all the pieces they might to cease unhealthy issues from taking place, and on the final minute there was one thing they could not overcome. And that is a giant entrance for lions.
videogameaddicted: The Primarch’s energy set is likely one of the most mentioned facets of 40,000 lore. Followers like to pit Primarchs towards one another and guess who will win in a battle. A part of what we’re doing right here is unmasking the Patriarch’s masks in a method and revealing the way it works in a method we have by no means seen earlier than. We lastly obtained to see their powers in motion.
Jan Thiessen: RTS tries to present each unit within the recreation a particular character that matches the outline and works from a lore perspective. However however, after all it is also an RTS recreation, and it’s a must to be sure that it is balanced, that the participant can really perceive, for instance, what this unit is sweet at. And if each unit is healthier at all the pieces, that is after all an issue. We labored on this all through manufacturing, principally enthusiastic about how we may make all of the factions really feel genuine and the models really feel genuine.
Within the case of The Lion, this can be a little bit of a particular case. As a result of that is just like the final mission of the sport, the place some cool cinematic factor occurs right here after which we’re simply going to have some enjoyable with Primarch, so I did not actually care if this was balanced or if this was really one thing that might theoretically be achieved in multiplayer or one thing like that. Who cares? That is only for enjoyable. And even when we have been to position Lion El’Jonson in different modes, he positively can’t be the identical unit that’s within the marketing campaign.
videogameaddicted: Have you ever thought of protecting this a secret for gamers to find for themselves on the finish of the marketing campaign? You are out and about really speaking concerning the recreation earlier than it is launched.
Jan Thiessen: I imply, that is all the time the query, proper? Would you like your recreation to be a giant shock or, to be trustworthy, do you wish to use it for advertising and marketing? And I feel the necessary factor is that in right now’s local weather it is principally not possible to maintain it a secret. Perhaps for some gamers it was stunning and actually cool, and I perceive that too. And naturally, if we may affirm that this was the case for a lot of gamers, maybe we might have achieved so.
However in actuality, it in all probability takes a couple of minutes, a screenshot of it or a video on TikTok, and that is it. So for us, it was principally, okay to speak about Darkish Angels. As a result of that is one other story. In principle, they might have saved the entire story of Darkish Angels a secret, however then once more, protecting it a secret is extraordinarily tough. And inside minutes, somebody obtained the publish and that was it. So we principally stated, “Okay, it is in all probability not value it, let’s make it early on so everybody can take pleasure in it.”
videogameaddicted: So that you type of screwed it up for your self. Did you see followers spot Lion’s filename within the video? Was that intentional?
Jan Thiessen: It wasn’t. I have never checked the file title.
videogameaddicted: I wish to discuss canon. So, have you ever talked to GW about whether or not Daybreak of Struggle is canon? If the lion is within the recreation, I feel it is going to be set after the return of the lion, since what we see right here, the mannequin we noticed within the trailer, is a brand new mannequin. So what was the dialogue like there? House Marines 2 is canon, and Titus is clearly a giant a part of the continuing story. So how do you slot in?
Jan Thiessen: Really, I do not know if there’s been an official choice on that, however it’s in all probability going to be Video games Workshop’s choice ultimately. However we all know the place it is going to happen by way of place and time. It suits all the pieces else. However I do not know if Video games Workshop will say, “That is canon.”
For instance, select Kronos because the planet on your recreation. Reasonably, it was like, “Okay, we want Earth.” Will we invent one thing new? The fundamental query was, it is perhaps fascinating to return to Kronos and speak a bit bit about what occurred to Earth, who received the Darkish Campaign, and so on. So why not? And principally, we now know the place Kronos is. Which aspect of the Nice Rift is it on? And so forth. After which we slowly determine how all of this suits collectively. However once more, I feel whether or not or not it is official canon is a query for Video games Workshop.
videogameaddicted: So Kronos is within the Nihilus Empire?
Jan Thiessen: Sure, it is on the opposite aspect of the elevate.
videogameaddicted: That might clarify why the Darkish Angels and Lion El’Johnson are in a position to be there presently.
Jan Thiessen: Nicely, this may also clarify a bit bit why the Blood Ravens are struggling, proper? As a result of principally that chapter is in all places, however the guys we’re coping with discover themselves in Nihilus.
videogameaddicted: So are you going to arrange some type of relationship between the Darkish Angels and Blood Ravens right here that followers shall be enthusiastic about by way of a sequel chapter? Or are we studying an excessive amount of into the concept persons are working collectively?
Jan Thiessen: I feel that is a bit an excessive amount of. In fact, we symbolize every chapter and we see that they’re each House Marines, however that does not imply they essentially belief one another or are nice associates. However at the least for us, it is not a giant future that, for instance, Blood Ravens and Darkish Angels, who is aware of what’s going to occur, will not be in a buddy film anytime quickly.
videogameaddicted: Blood Ravens are canon, proper? They have been created by Video games Workshop as a part of canon. And apparently Darkish Angel as nicely. Subsequently, I feel it’s inevitable that we’ll obtain such questions from followers.
Jan Thiessen: That is true, however particularly on the subject of the Blood Ravens, they are a comparatively small group that principally exists on this planet that they use as a recruiting world. That is not all there’s to it now. There could also be different Blood Ravens on the market, however we do not learn about them. And there are actually different Darkish Angels. So we’re not writing the historical past of those chapters now.
videogameaddicted: If Lion is within the recreation, are we speaking concerning the Fallen right here from a Darkish Angel perspective?
Jan Thiessen: In fact, you do not typically need story spoilers, however on this case I do not assume it is actually a part of the story. There may be an instantaneous risk that have to be addressed shortly. So we’re actually speaking concerning the story and never a lot concerning the backstory.
videogameaddicted: I noticed a lion sporting a helmet. Does he do voice performing? Does he have traces? Are you able to see his face?
Jan Thiessen: What you see within the trailer are a part of the 2 cutscenes we now have with him, and he positively begins with no helmet to ensure everybody is aware of who it’s. And naturally, you may as well play him, though he has a bit little bit of dialogue within the cutscenes as nicely. And because it’s clearly an RTS, for those who’re imagined to kill somebody, for instance, I am going to admit that.
videogameaddicted: So we lastly get to listen to his story! what the modders are going to do as soon as the sport is launched, proper? They are going to usher in the lions to take part in multiplayer, skirmishes, and so on. I am positive you anticipated that.
Jan Thiessen: So, formally I’ve to say you could’t mod something, however some folks take pleasure in utilizing mods, so why not?
videogameaddicted: I might love to listen to what it is prefer to work with Video games Workshop on such a giant lore.
Jan Thiessen: I will not go into particulars, however we now have a bunch of individuals on the Video games Workshop aspect working with us, and we use them as an encyclopedia of Warhammer data. In different phrases, everytime you want one thing, you want the power or weapon to make it occur. Is there one thing? They usually go away and so they come again and provides us choices as to what we will use. That is a very powerful factor. As a result of it’s totally complicated and has many components. Even when somebody like John French is writing the story, he is aware of rather a lot, however even he won’t know all of the little particulars of all of the completely different factions.
If one thing is not proper, after all you will get suggestions on that as nicely. However for us, I feel that is superb. As a result of in the end what we’re making an attempt to do is be as genuine as potential. Everyone knows there have been video games previously the place some models and such felt like they should not have felt that method. And we principally stated, “Okay, let’s get this proper.” Video games Workshop helped us rather a lot with that. Let’s perceive it accurately.
Warhammer 40,000: Daybreak of Struggle 4 is scheduled to be launched on PC through Steam in 2026.
Wesley is videogameaddicted’s Director of Information. Discover me on Twitter @wyp100. Wesley may be reached at wesley_yinpoole@videogameaddicted.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.