Warhammer 40,000: Darktideis afirst-personactionvideo gameset in theWarhammer 40,000universe, developed and published byFatshark.It is a spiritual successor to theWarhammer: Vermintideseries.[1]It was released forMicrosoft Windowson 30 November 2022. It also was released forXbox Series X/Son 4 October 2023, and forPlayStation 5on 3 December 2024.
| Warhammer 40,000: Darktide | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Fatshark |
| Publisher(s) | Fatshark |
| Director(s) |
|
| Designer(s) | Mats Andersson |
| Writer(s) | Dan Abnett Matt Ward |
| Composer(s) | Jesper Kyd |
| Series | Warhammer 40,000 |
| Engine | Autodesk Stingray |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Action,first-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Gameplay
editThe game uses a similar formula to that used in Fatshark'sWarhammer: Vermintide 2in which four playerscooperateto defeat periodic waves of AI-controlled enemies.[2][3]Rather than a set of pre-made characters, the game allows players to customize their class, appearance, and gender.[4]The four classes consist of a Veteran, Zealot, Ogryn, and Psyker; a balanced shooter, support class, tank class and DPS class respectively.[5]All classes make use of a regenerating shield.[6]
Unlike inVermintide 2,multiple missions can take place in the same area, some of which include optional secondary objectives that allow players to obtain better loot.[6]Difficulty has been divided into two variables, one affecting enemy count and the other damage received from enemies.[6]Progression is split between random rewards, an in-game currency that allows the purchase of weapons and a contract system to earn a weapon of your choice.[6]Crafting also allows the player to upgrade their weapons and increase their stats.[6]
Plot
editThe game's story, written by experienced Games Workshop authorsDan Abnettand Matt Ward, focuses on a squad of Inquisitorial Agents investigating aChaosuprising in the Hive City of Tertium on the industrial planet of Atoma Prime.[7][8]
The player character Operative begins the story detained aboard the prison transportTancred Bastionfor a crime determined during player creation. During transport theTancred Bastionis suddenly swarmed and overwhelmed by followers of the Chaos god Nurgle. The player rescues Explicator Zola and the two successfully evacuate the ship. Zola agrees to spare the player from the death penalty by conscripting them to the Inquisition. From their base aboard the shipMourningstar,the Inquisition deploys the Operative to different sectors within Tertium to research and suppress the Nurgle infestation and cult.
Once onboard the ship, the player begins to earn the trust of theMourningstar'sdifferent members, all of whom are subservient to Inquisitor Grendyl. They must enter the depths of Atoma's largest hive, Tertium, and foil the plans of the chaos cult by claiming supply drops, investigating the daemonic plague, assassinating leaders of the renegade Planetary Defense Forces and reclaiming important facilities across the city. After some time, it is discovered that theMourningstarhas been infiltrated by a spy for the cult, who was sending out detailed reports of the Inquisition's operations and subsequently killing off entire squads of elite agents planetside. Interrogator Rannick, the right hand man of Grendyl, leads the investigation of theMourningstar'smole problem while also showing interest in the player's progress. Once enough trust is earned, Rannick welcomes the Player fully into the Inquisition while also killing the traitor once and for all. After this, the player continues their ongoing mission to purge the corruption of Nurgle in Tertium as a full member of the warband.
The plot is set to evolve over time in a manner that parallels alive service,[4]continuing to develop on a weekly basis and following a set meta narrative.[9]
Development
editThe game was first announced in July 2020 during the Xbox Series X and Series S showcase event in which Fatshark showed plans for a 2021 release.[10]A gameplay trailer was released on 10 December 2020, which showcased the use of weapons such as a Lasgun and a chainsword being used to defeat hordes of Poxwalkers and chaos traitors.[7]Among the playable characters, an Imperial Guardsman and an Ogryn could be observed. The developers commented thatDarktideis planned to be lessmeleefocused thanVermintide 2,getting closer to a 50/50 split between melee and ranged combat.[11]
In July 2021 Fatshark announced that due to difficulties arising as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic,the release date would be pushed back from 2021 to spring 2022.[12]The release date was again pushed back to 13 September 2022 in an announcement which was accompanied by a new trailer.[7]A further delay pushing the release back to 30 November 2022 for Windows was later announced.[13]
A closed beta was made available to some players on 14 October 2022 and ran for two days.[14]
On 24 January 2023, Martin Wahlund, CEO & Co-Founder of Fatshark, announced that development on new content was paused while the studio focused on improving progression, stability and performance, in response to the negative reception the game received post-launch.[15]In February 2023, Fatshark released Patch#4, also titled "Blessings of the Omnissiah", which changes the game's loot system and crafting. A revamped class system and progression were released with Patch #13, which saw the game released on consoles.[16]In August 2023, it was announced that the game would launch on the Xbox Series X and Series S on 4 October 2023.[17]In November 2024, it was announced that the game would launch on the PlayStation 5 on 3 December 2024.[18]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 74/100[19] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| GameSpot | 7/10[20] |
| GamesRadar+ |    [21] |
| IGN | 8/10[22] |
| PC Gamer(US) | 80/100[23] |
| Shacknews | 7/10[24] |
According toMetacritic,Warhammer 40,000: Darktidehas received "mixed or average reviews", based on 68 reviews.[19]As of 22 January 2023, the game faced sharp player falloff and negative reviews on Steam for the perceived unfinished state of the game and a lack of communication surrounding updates or improvements.[25]The loot and crafting systems have drawn criticism, described byRock Paper Shotgunas "[a] fantastic FPS ruined by a rubbishMMO".[26][27]
References
edit- ^O'Connor, Alice; Thorn, Ed; Archer, James; Richardson, Liam (14 December 2022)."Warhammer 40K: Darktide review: brilliantly grisly co-op".Rock Paper Shotgun.Gamer Network.Retrieved15 February2023.
- ^"Warhammer 40,000: Darktide—release date, trailer and everything we know".PC Gamer.Retrieved25 July2020.
- ^"Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Is A New Game From Vermintide's Dev".GameSpot.Retrieved25 July2020.
- ^abHopley, Alex (20 May 2022)."Warhammer 40K: Darktide Unveils New Class and Missions That Will Develop After Launch".Game Rant.Retrieved22 May2022.
- ^Macgregor, Jody (20 May 2022)."Darktide will have a playable psyker class".PC Gamer.Retrieved22 May2022.
- ^abcdeFenlon, Wes (13 June 2022)."Hands-on: Warhammer 40K: Darktide absolutely rules".PC Gamer.Retrieved17 June2022.
- ^abcUpdated, Fraser Brown Last (31 March 2022)."Crush Chaos in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide this September".PC Gamer.Retrieved31 March2022.
- ^Tolbert, Samuel (31 July 2020)."Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for Xbox Series X and PC — Everything you need to know".Windows Central.Retrieved24 November2020.
- ^"Warhammer 40K Darktide takes the Destiny 2 approach to its campaign".The Loadout.19 May 2022.Retrieved22 May2022.
- ^Yin-Pole, Wesley (23 July 2020)."Warhammer 40,000: Darktide announced".Eurogamer.Retrieved4 June2021.
- ^Brown, Fraser (11 December 2020)."Warhammer 40,000: Darktide gets nasty with chainswords in its Game Awards trailer".PC Gamer.Retrieved23 December2020.
- ^Yin-Poole, Wesley (15 July 2021)."Warhammer 40,000 Darktide delayed to spring 2022".Eurogamer.Retrieved15 July2021.
- ^"Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Delayed To November For PC".GameSpot.Retrieved4 August2022.
- ^Smith, Graham (15 October 2022)."Warhammer 40K: Darktide's closed beta is live but you can still apply".Rock, Paper, Shotgun.Retrieved27 October2022.
- ^Smith, Graham (24 January 2023)."Warhammer 40K: Darktide developers pause new content to address" mostly negative "feedback".Rock, Paper, Shotgun.Retrieved27 January2023.
- ^Koch, Cameron (18 August 2023)."Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Getting Revamped Class System With Skill Trees And New Abilities".GameSpot.Retrieved24 August2023.
- ^"Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for Xbox Series launches October 4".Gematsu.23 August 2023.Retrieved15 October2023.
- ^Romano, Sal (7 November 2024)."Warhammer 40,000: Darktide coming to PS5 on December 3".Gematsu.Retrieved7 November2024.
- ^ab"Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for PC Reviews".Metacritic.Retrieved14 March2023.
- ^Dalenay, Mark (2 December 2022)."Warhammer 40K Darktide Review - Left To Shred".GameSpot.Retrieved12 December2022.
- ^Lane, Rick (2 December 2022)."Warhammer 40k: Darktide review:" Lackluster progression systems undermine its grisly joys "".GamesRadar+.Retrieved12 December2022.
- ^Campbell, Kyle (24 November 2022)."Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Review".IGN.Retrieved12 December2022.
- ^Martin, Sean (6 December 2022)."Warhammer 40K: Darktide review".PC Gamer.Retrieved12 December2022.
- ^Tan, Nicholas (6 December 2022)."Warhammer 40K: Darktide Review - Thou Shalt Kill".Shacknews.Retrieved12 December2022.
- ^Zak, Robert (23 January 2023)."No, Warhammer 40K: Darktide Isn't Dying, But It's In A Mess Of Its Own Making".Dualshockers.Retrieved23 January2023.
- ^Klimas, Martynas (2 December 2022)."Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is hurt by the loot treadmill".PC Invasion.Gamurs.Retrieved30 March2023.
- ^O'Connor, Alice (10 February 2023)."Rather than overhaul gear and crafting systems, Darktide should rip them out".Rock Paper Shotgun.Gamer Network.Retrieved30 March2023.