Warhammer 40K: The Ultimate Guide (First Look)

The grimdark future of Warhammer 40K has never looked brighter, with the game reaching new levels of popularity thanks to the arrival of a new 10th edition, as well as online media attention with the recent announcement of an upcoming Warhammer 40K TV show starring Henry Cavill.

As further proof of just how mainstream Warhammer 40K has become, Games Workshop recently announced the launch of a new visual reference book from DK, the company that has published similar titles for iconic brands like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Dungeons & Dragons.

Entitled, Warhammer 40,000: The Ultimate Guide, the upcoming book is written by Black Library authors Gav Thorpe and Guy Haley and will feature a ton of miniature imagery and lore. It’s slated for release in October 2024, but is available for pre-order now from Amazon. Below, we break out all the details.

What is “Warhammer 40K: The Ultimate Guide”

Warhammer 40.000: The Ultimate Guide is the first ever visual encyclopedia of Warhammer miniatures. The book will be published in partnership with DK Books, a division of Penguin Random House that has produced similar titles for other pop culture brands over the years. Coming in at 336 pages, it features hundreds of photographs showcasing miniatures from every faction in the Warhammer 40K universe. It also highlight following key characters through the evolution of their models over the past few decades.

The book is written by New York Times bestselling authors Gav Thorpe and Guy Haley, both of whom have contributed extensively to Warhammer 40K lore as authors with Games Workshops’ Black Library literary imprint.

Who is Gav Thorpe?

Gav Thorpe is a British author and longtime contributor to Games Workshop who started out as a designer for the company in the early 1990s, working on titles including the Inquisitor skirmish game, as well as producing a number of game materials for both Warhammer and Warhammer 40K. Thorpe has also written over a dozen novels for the Games Workshop Black Library, including popular titles such the Legacy of Caliban series (which recently made it on our list as some of the best Dark Angels books ever written).

Who is Guy Haley?

Guy Haley is a British-based author who previously worked as the editor for Games Workshop’s White Dwarf magazine. In addition, Haley has written over 30 novels set in the Warhammer fantasy universe and another 50 novels set in the Warhammer 40K universe, including contributing to the popular series, The Beast Arises (which made it on our list as some of the best Warhammer 40K Ork books of all time).

When is “Warhammer 40K: The Ultimate Guide” Coming Out?

The new DK visual guide will be released on October 15th, 2024. At that time the book will be available from Amazon and other online and brick and mortar retailers in most regions around the world (although you may want to contact your local retailer first to see if they have it).

Oddly enough, it won’t be available on the official Games Workshop online store (although it may be possible you can pick up at physical Warhammer store locations).

How much is “Warahmmer 40K: The Ultimate Guide” Retailing for?

The book will likely retail for $45 USD (although prices may vary depending on where you buy your copy from, and whether it’s online or in person).

FINAL THOUGHTS

For years, Warhammer 40K was considered a fairly niche game. But the upcoming DK visual guide is further proof that the franchise has made it into the mainstream and is reaching a larger audience than ever before.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on this title in the days ahead and will update this page with new information (and a complete review) closer to launch. In the meantime, you can pre-order it now from Amazon.

SEE OUR BOOKS COVERAGE

Visit our Warhammer 40K Books page for more reviews and news.

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