The 5 biggest announcements of Warhammer Skulls 2024

By James On May 23, 2024

Warhammer Skulls is an annual convention that focuses on announcements and updates for the various video games under the Warhammer umbrella. There’s a surprising variety of video games in this catalog, especially since Warhammer references both the fantasy and sci-fi settings of Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Age of Sigmar, and Warhammer 40K. While there were some fun Easter eggs and crossovers announced, the event also featured some pretty hefty announcements. Here are the five biggest news stories from this year’s Warhammer Skulls.

Rogue Trader is getting a new expansion

Image: Owlcat Games

A rogue trader is a massive CRPG, and while there were its fair share of bugs and balancing issues, developer Owlcat Games has spent the time since launch ironing out those wrinkles. There will be a new 15-hour campaign, integrated with the main story. The expansion, called Void Shadows, largely takes place on the warship von Valancius.

Players can meet (and possibly romance) Death Cult assassin Kibellah, team up with new high-level officers, build a new hangar for empty combat, and uncover a xenos conspiracy aboard their ship. Owlcat also announced this A rogue trader is now supported on Steam Deck, making this massive game much easier to play – or much more mobile.

Mechanicus 2 announced

A shot from Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2, showing the active war map about a Necron grave war, featuring battles between Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a solid, if somewhat underrated, XCOM-style strategy game. Today, Kasedo Games and Bulwark Studios announced that a sequel is coming, Technician 2, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series stand as Necrons. .

Technician 2 will have multiple campaigns, taking place around the awakening of a Necron tomb world. The player’s choices determine the final outcome of the war Black Library writer Ben Counter helming the story. While this sequel was unexpected, it is certainly a pleasant surprise.

Darktide and Vermintide 2 are both getting updates

A screenshot of Vermintide 2, showing shrines built to Chaos, built in a snowy winter valley

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Set in the bowels of a hive city, where rejected specimens are pulled straight from prison against the endless tides of the disease god’s minions. The next update will be released on June 25 and is called Secrets of the Machine God. The update includes new weapons and a new mission, where players explore an abandoned Mechanicus research station.

The update also includes a new event called Hestia’s Decollation Crusade. Players will be asked to eliminate the generals commanding swarms of heretics in exchange for in-game currency.

For those who prefer to squash rats in a fantasy setting, Fatshark’s other co-op horde shooter is also getting an update. Pests 2 receives a quality of life update with many changes: a new equipment system, changes to Chaos Wastes and the Winds of Magic, weekly expeditions, updates to the Chest of Trials, 30 new bonuses and more.

Pests 2 is also launching an in-game event running from May 23 to June 9 where players can earn time-limited rewards. Fatshark debuts the first playable boss on test servers, charmingly called Returning Alpha Test – or RAT. Players interested in trying out the Bile Troll boss fight can join these test servers between May 30 and June 9.

Space Marine 2 gets a multiplayer-focused trailer

A team of three Space Marines for the game's co-op mode, each wearing custom armor with different equipment.

Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive have shared a new trailer showcasing the multiplayer modes available in Space Marine 2which is currently set to release on September 9th. Players can take on the campaign as a team in three-player co-op mode, allowing their friends to take on the role of Titus’ additional Ultramarines.

The PvP game mode from the start Space Navy will also return, with three 6v6 modes called Annihilation, Seize Ground, and Capture and Control. The co-op elements of the game will have classes; For example, the stealthy Sniper has a camouflage cloak, while the tank-like Bulwark uses a battle shield on the front lines. There are also some nice customization options, allowing players to create their own custom chapter of Space Marines.

Boltgun gets an extension

A screenshot from Boltgun, showing the space marine blowing up a Chaos Space Marine with a massive weapon. The enemy advances, grinning, due to the explosion.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a charming, gory boomer shooter that I enjoyed more than I expected, and Auroch Digital has now unveiled a new expansion for the game. Forges of Corruption features new environments, enemies and weapons. Players can purchase a new edition of Boltgun which includes the Forges of Corruption content, or they can purchase the DLC separately. Forges of Corruption launches on June 18, along with a free horde mode update, a navigation guide to keep players from getting lost, and several bug fixes and quality of life improvements.