Who knew when this hastily put together missive from Australia was the herald of one of the biggest turn-arounds we've seen from GW? I certainly didn't. Looking at it, it screams troll, there are even spelling errors. I was quick to dismiss it as total guff, publicly and repeatedly.
Seems I was quite wrong on this one. I've never been so happy to be so.
As the day wore on, the rumour gained traction, until eventually, this appeared on the GW news app:
All doubt was dismissed. It's the most unusual news release I've ever seen from GW. Perhaps it was a mistake, maybe that Australian store manager is already clearing out his desk, but I doubt it. Everything about this tidal wave is out of character, from the way it was released to what it actually means. GW are resurrecting a plethora of specialist games, from my beloved Bloodbowl, Epic and Necromunda to Battle Fleet Gothic and more.
Knock me over with a feather guv, so much for the 'We're no longer a games company' schpiel.
It seems GW have cottoned on to the fact that these games are still getting played and indeed, have vibrant communities, years after they were abandoned. Looks like they want back in on the action, but hell, what a turnaround. I'll still keep a weather eye on things until I see more news, but wow, it's like 'Let's make Mr Saturday weep salty red tears of joy.' day.
Now, with mention of box sets, allow me to drift into the magical land of wishlisting. A box set for say, Bloodbowl, at the quality level of Betrayal at Calth. Lordy. New plastic ships for Battle Fleet Gothic? Even more intriguing than the potential miniatures, the resurgence in play. Getting some new blood into these games would be... epic. Looks like my titans might need an oil change.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get my Scavvies in order, finish that Necro team and prep that Imperator titan.
Well said, and bang on. We are living in interesting times!
ReplyDeleteI also didn't believe it. The typos, the unorthodox route the news broke. The direction change (they've just killed WFB, why would they bring stuff back). On the other hand they have just had a new ceo, who needs to make changes to prove his worth, and the proliferation of licensed computer games is a sign that they were thinking about all that unused IP. If I was them, I would be concentrating on using these as affordable entry points to the hobby, and to be honest I wouldn't be bringing out very large quantities of new stuff but more relaunching things that are already designed. They are trying to be leaner and putting a lot of money into new products that are likely to sell in relatively small volumes isn't going to do that.
ReplyDeleteWhat form these new versions will come in is the rub. Like Dreadfleet, with a single box, then nothing, or with support coming from Forge World? I would have thought the Dreadfleet debacle would have scared them off doing big box releases, but then, the siren call of Space Hulk might have lured them back. The recent assassin game, Execution Force, must have done well, and with the apparent hit that is Betrayal at Calth, maybe we'll see similar sets for the specialist range. I can't see them re-releasing metal models.
DeleteGW typos are never an indication of illigitimacy, every Codex they've ever published is evidence of that! ;)
ReplyDeleteA uturn yes but how big we've know idea yet Dave, will GW just look to make a quick buck by doing a one off book set of some of the older games or are they going to go full hug ?
ReplyDeleteMy guess if the first one Dave as if you take say necromunda a gang has about 10 models so even if I was to by 3 different gangs that's still only a drop in the sea when you put it against a 40K army & where as they can keep making up new stuff for 40K it's not the same with necromunda.
BFG on the other hand is something I think they could run with in a different way & by tying it in to the HH with missions in FW's HH books hit a jackpot.
In the end it will be interesting to watch it all unfold one way or the other mate.
It'll certainly be fascinating watching it unfold Frank.
DeleteI too thought this was a hoax until I looked into the GW news app!!! Amazing news... Literally amazing!i can't wait to get my epic back on the table!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy good, if it pans out. I have at least a dozen plastic warlord titans still waiting to be assembled.
DeleteI'm hoping that we get some new Blood Bowl teams, and I love epic so I'll be keeping an eye on that, if only for the miniatures, as I'm quite happy with second edition Space Marine. I have my fingers crossed for Warhammer Quest and Dark Future, but I realise those are unlikely. Then again, this announcement was unlikely, so one never knows.
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