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Full-scale plastic Thunderhawk revealed
Games Workshop has revealed a plastic, Warhammer 40,000-scale Thunderhawk Gunship—one of the hobby’s most anticipated model concepts. However, the current announcement is for the Thunderhawk Impact Site terrain set, featuring the wreck in four terrain pieces, rather than a confirmed buildable flying Thunderhawk kit; its release remains some way off.[^1]
Orks open the 11th-edition codex cycle
The new Codex: Orks is arriving as the first codex of the new edition. It contains 15 detachments, an expanded Waaagh! army rule and datasheets for more than 50 units; its app code also provides an ongoing subscription to updates, additional detachments, lore and hobby guides.[^2] If you’re still weighing up armies before committing to the WAAAGH!, our guide to Warhammer 40k factions breaks down how Orks stack up against the rest.
The updated Ork points are already live in the Munitorum Field Manual and app. Ghazghkull is listed at 300 points, while the new detachments and Force Dispositions are also available for list building.[^3]
Space Marines are getting stronger—and smaller
The forthcoming Codex: Space Marines, expected in October, substantially raises Marine profiles: Tacticus-armoured troops move to Toughness 5, common close-combat weapons and bolt pistols rise to Strength 5, and Intercessor bolt rifles receive Strength 5 and Strength 6 fire modes. Games Workshop says the stronger profiles will come with higher points, producing smaller, more elite armies.[^4]
New multipart Intercessor and Vanguard Veteran kits are also coming. Vanguard Veterans gain combat-shield options and master-crafted swords and axes, while Intercessors notably bring back classic-style back banners.[^5] Chapters like the Blood Angels will be watching these profile changes closely, since a points hike could reshape how their melee-focused lists play.
Balance updates continue
August’s 11th-edition balance pass adjusted points, relaxed some detachment restrictions and revised selected Force Disposition maps. September is planned as the final monthly balance update before Games Workshop returns to quarterly updates.[^6]
Henry Cavill’s Warhammer universe keeps expanding
Amazon MGM, Blur Studios and Games Workshop are developing a Warhammer 40,000 animated event series centred on the Deathwatch, the galaxy’s elite xenos hunters. It’s a Secret Level spinoff directed and co-created by Dave Wilson—and Henry Cavill is on board as executive producer.[^7][^8]
Cavill’s involvement here sits alongside, not inside, his other Warhammer project: he’s also executive-producing and starring in a separate live-action Warhammer 40,000 series for Amazon, a passion project the actor has talked about publicly for years as a longtime tabletop hobbyist. With Cavill now attached to both the animated Deathwatch spinoff and the flagship live-action show, Amazon is effectively betting on him as the face of Warhammer 40,000’s push into mainstream television—a notable vote of confidence given his existing genre pedigree from The Witcher and Man of Steel.
No casting, footage, or firm release window has been confirmed for either the animated series or Cavill’s live-action project, so expect the Henry Cavill Warhammer news cycle to keep heating up as production details leak out over the coming months.
Video games remain busy
Space Marine 2 closed its second year with the free Confrontation Update, adding two PvP maps, a Thousand Sons Terminus enemy, Heroic weapons and armour content; Year 3 is scheduled to begin in September.[^9]
The wider 2026 slate includes Chaos Gate – Deathwatch, Mechanicus II, Boltgun 2, a Warhammer 40,000 crossover for Helldivers 2, and more. Earlier reporting announced Dawn of War IV for 17 September, although a later secondary report says it has been delayed until late 2026; treat the revised date cautiously until confirmed through the publisher’s official channels.[^10][^11]
What matters now
| Area | Development to watch |
|---|---|
| Tabletop | Ork Codex launch and its early tournament performance[^3][^2] |
| Space Marines | October codex, higher points and new infantry kits[^5][^4] |
| Competitive play | September’s final monthly balance pass[^6] |
| Collecting | Clarification on whether the Thunderhawk reveal expands beyond terrain[^1] |
| Screen | Casting and production news for Henry Cavill’s two Warhammer projects—the Amazon Deathwatch animation and his live-action series[^8] |
| Gaming | Confirmation of Dawn of War IV‘s revised release date and Space Marine 2 Year 3 details[^11][^9] |
Immediate Australian hobby note
September’s free Miniature of the Month is a Space Marine Scout, available from 5 September while stocks last. Games Workshop says this is the final traditional free-miniature offer before a new in-store promotion begins in October.[^12]
References
- Revealed: The plastic Thunderhawk gunship – Revealed: The plastic Thunderhawk gunship · It’s been a long time coming, but we can finally say it’…
- Sunday Preview – Orks rampage in next week – More News. Codex: Orks points are live on the Munitorum Field Manual · Warhammer 40,000 · Orks · Dow…
- Codex: Orks points are live on the Munitorum Field Manual – Codex: Orks points are live on the Munitorum Field Manual … The new Codex: Orks hits shelves this …
- Big Space Marines News – Warhammer Community – New Space Marines infantry revealed · Model Reveal · Space Marines · Warhammer 40,000. Mon 31 Aug 26…
- New Space Marines infantry revealed – Warhammer Community – New Space Marines infantry revealed … New kits are on the way for Vanguard Veterans and Intercesso…
- The Warhammer 40,000 August Update – Everything you need to … – September’s update will be the last of the monthly balance passes, after which it will go back to qu…
- ‘Warhammer 40000′ Animated Series Set At Amazon – Amazon MGM Studios is developing a Warhammer 40000 animated event series alongside the upcoming live…
- ‘Warhammer 40000′ Animated Series in the Works at Amazon – A “Warhammer 40000” animated event series is in development from Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studios, G…
- Space Marine 2: Confrontation Update closes out Year 2 – Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Confrontation Update closes out Year 2 – Year 3 to kick off in Se…
- Everything Announced at Warhammer Skulls 2026 – Nitro Games announced Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Boom, due out on mobile in 2026. This is a new adapt…
- Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War IV Delayed to Late 2026 – Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War IV has been delayed to late 2026 as developers take more time to improv…
- September’s Miniature of the Month and Collectible Coin revealed – Celebrate the launch of the new Ogor Mawtribes range with a collectible coin featuring the sigil of …