Necromunda: Underhive Wars Development Update

Originally announced back in 2017, Rogue Factor and Focus Home Interactive’s tactical RPG Necromunda: Underhive Wars disappeared from the spotlight soon after that, in the process making some wonder whether the project was still alive. As a result, we now get this development update on the official forums that brings us up to speed with the game’s development and lets us know that it should be launching sometime around summer 2020.

Check it out:

Greetings, friends and fellow Necromunda fans,

We know many of you have been following this project with great interest, and wondering what is happening with Necromunda: Underhive Wars. We’re here today to address these questions openly, and to bring some great news on the state of development, release details, and what you can expect in the next few months from our teams at Rogue Factor and Focus Home Interactive. And so, without further ado, let’s jump right in!

News from the development front - where have we been?

In early 2018, our teams were eager to lift the curtain and show the new game we were working on, following the success of our previous title, Mordheim: City of the Damned. We were absolutely thrilled to see the Teaser Trailer being greeted to an amazing reception from both fans and media outlets alike, confirming the vivid enthusiasm around this very first video game reimagining of Games Workshop’s iconic tabletop franchise.

As you probably know, video game development is seldom a long, quiet river - it is rather an iterative, creative and constantly-evolving process, one that involves numerous craftspeople all working towards the same goal of creating memorable, fun and engaging interactive experiences. It is also a process that adapts to the emergence of new considerations, difficulties and opportunities - some brought to light by our own discovery of the worlds we create, as we see them progressively take form, and others offered by the most important - and crucial - feedback of players like you.

In February 2019, we organised a round of Closed Playtests, aimed at receiving an honest and fresh assessment from some of our most senior and dedicated community members (to whom we would once again like to say a huge thank you!).

While these sessions confirmed that the game was indeed heading in the right direction, they also made clear to us that we had to make some important changes, in order to realise the project’s full potential, and carry it to the height of its intended creative vision. We also discovered many instances of new and emerging possibilities - key fun-factors of the experience that were only revealed by pushing the envelope in bold, new directions. In both cases, the changes to the existing systems meant taking the steps needed to improve the game, and to refocus it on its core pillars.

Since then, we’ve spent all of our time working on Necromunda: Underhive Wars - resolved to avoid generating new public hype or expectations until we were finally nearing the finish line, holding a game we knew we’d be proud to present and bring to you. While it took a tremendous amount of effort to get to where we are today, we are absolutely convinced that this long journey was all worth it, and it is with the utmost pleasure that we can finally say we’re just about ready to lift the veil, and to show you everything you have so patiently been waiting for!

What’s next?

Necromunda: Underhive Wars will be released worldwide for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in summer 2020! We will be revealing gameplay, new trailers, a specific release date and much, much more very soon.

Get ready for an action-tactics game like no other.

Necromunda: Underhive Wars will bring a unique, personal, and grounded perspective on the Necromunda, one of the most famous Hive Worlds from the legendary Warhammer 40,000 universe. This very first video game adaptation of the iconic tabletop franchise invites you to take command of Necromunda’s infamous gangs and wage endless conflict for the control of the sparse riches of the Underhive like never before!
  • Experience a carefully-crafted blend of turn-based tactical gameplay, RPG elements and deep unit customisation, all combining to create thunderous firefights and brutal melee engagements in sprawling vertical environments where cunning, boldness and strength will all make the difference between life and death.
  • Discover an explosive story campaign spanning 15 action-packed missions and written by acclaimed Warhammer 40,000 author Andy Chambers. Follow the fate of 3 infamous gangs set on a collision course with one another, racing into the depths of the Underhive in search of the most valuable of long-lost treasures.
  • Create your own gangs and experiment with deep customization mechanics, allowing you to tailor every aspect of the fighters you will lead in battle. See them grow stronger with each hard-fought victory, as well as risk their lives with every new encounter.
  • Master an endlessly replayable and immersive single-player gameplay loop where meaningful decisions both in and out of battle will determine the rise or fall of your gangs. Travel to different sectors of the Underhive and secure their resources while defending your HQ against the constant threat of rival factions.
  • Lead your fighters online in no holds barred matches against other players, where multiple scenarios, maps and persistent game-modes will allow you to prove your might and forge your reputation as the most fearsome force in the Underhive.
Thank You!

On behalf of everyone here at Rogue Factor and Focus Home Interactive, we thank you for your patience, as well as for your continued participation and interest in this great project. We are absolutely convinced that you’ll love the game and all the contents we have in store, just around the corner.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to join our official Discord, as well as follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitch to be among the first to know more about Necromunda: Underhive Wars.

Until then, stay safe, and have a wonderful day.
Best regards,

The Rogue Factor and Focus Home Interactive teams