Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy News

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.

But there are many facets to this war, all shaped and influenced by the unique setting of Warhammer 40,000. There are countless conflicts raging across the Imperium, from the legendary battles of the Space Marines to the heroic deeds of the Astra Militarum. They endure, hoping to hold back the vile influence of Chaos, the creeping threat of vicious xenos, or any one of the many other threats lurking in the dark recesses of the galaxy.

The story of Warhammer 40,000 is the struggle for survival and the war for Humanity’s soul in the face of unending horrors. And among this struggle, one story stands out to us: the Dark Heresy.

We're ready to show our hand and share how Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy will differ from Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Let's delve into the oppressive atmosphere of Dark Heresy and unveil some secrets about our upcoming project. We’ll reveal novel changes, fresh mechanics, and the distinctive tone that we will bring to Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. So be sure to stay with us till the end.

And before we start, don’t forget to check out our video guide to Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]What is Dark Heresy?[/h2]

Those who have played our games before know that adapting tabletop systems into video games is something we do quite often. That is what we did with Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, and this is what we’ll do with Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy.

But what is Dark Heresy? Dark Heresy is one of the most iconic role-playing systems in the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. Dark Heresy has proudly stood the test of time for almost 20 years, shaping the system into the glorious state it is in today.

In Dark Heresy, we play as acolytes. We are mortal servants of the Inquisition in a sector where heresy festers right below the surface and the light of the Emperor has been extinguished.


The acolytes' resources are few, and enemies numerous. The servants of the Inquisition are tasked with investigating heresy, uncovering conspiracies, interrogating suspects, and combating eternal threats: heretics, xenos, and daemons alike.

[h2]What Makes Dark Heresy Unique?[/h2]

Among the multitude of perspectives in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Dark Heresy depicts the dark, hopeless, gothic face of the Imperium, seen through the lens of the Inquisition.

While Rogue Traders venture brazenly into the unknown, cloaked in opulence and draped in ancient authority, the acolytes of the Inquisition walk in shadow. They are stripped of glory and are nameless in death. No gilded voidship bears their crest, no xenos relics fill their vaults, and no riches await them.

The world of Dark Heresy is decaying; it is full of fear, lies, and madness. We are living inside of a massive, necrotic empire, tasked with hunting heretics, xenos, daemons, and even each other. Our characters do not seek fame; we can only strive to survive in this abode of horrors, paranoia, intrigue, personal tragedy, and the ever-present fear of an enemy cloaked in shadow.

Dark Heresy reveals the very essence of the rot and corruption made manifest by the many atrocities committed in the Calixis Sector. It will show you that the most terrifying enemies are not just lurking out of sight — they are already among us.


[h2]How Does Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy Differ?[/h2]

[h3]The Story[/h3]
As we’ve already shared, you will start the game as an Acolyte of the Inquisition, bestowed with an important mission. Any path you choose will not be easy. Moreover, you may choose not to be bound by tenets and creeds of the Imperium — decisions must be made, and the burden of their consequences must be embraced.

[h3]The Place[/h3]
The game will take place in the infamous Calixis Sector, located in the Segmentum Obscurus. The main plot will unfold in the Scintilla System. It is the focal point of power, politics, and corruption in the whole sector. Scintilla is an overpopulated, polluted, and ancient place that hides dreadful secrets. Scintillian hives are built on bones, bathed in light, and ruled from the shadows.

[h3]The Combat[/h3]
We have carefully worked through all your feedback on the combat system in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader and have decided to make use of the same system framework for our next project. Of course, we are putting in great effort to improve combat encounters and rework the class system, as well as adding new mechanics. This will make the combat system even more original and exciting.

[h3]The New Mechanics[/h3]
In addition to all the perilous adventures we have in store for you in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, we are also developing a new and exciting Investigation mechanic. In this interactive mini-game, you will be able to investigate crimes, analyse evidence, and dispense verdicts. But remember, your decisions will have consequences. We will tell you more about our new system very soon, so don’t miss out!

[h3]The Enemies[/h3]
In Dark Heresy, one is never safe. Enemies are everywhere, and only faith can save these poor souls. Or… can it? In the dark void between stars, they lurk, ready to strike without warning. The Night Lords. You cannot hope for a swift end, for their weapon is far more cruel. Their main weapon is fear, but they also enact gruesome massacres, slaying whole populations in the name of their dark gods.

However, the Night Lords are not the only thing you should fear. The threat of the ominous Tyrant Star in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy is beyond comprehension. It is believed to be many things; an omen of doom, a herald of madness, and a harbinger of death.

[h3]The Choices[/h3]
The decisions in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy will present you with impossible moral dilemmas, making you feel the full weight of the consequences. There will not be a spectrum of good and evil, but of purity versus pragmatism. You will be able to choose the Puritan path: unyielding, absolute, and untainted. Or set out upon a more adaptive, yet perilous Radical course. Both adherents claim to serve the Imperium. Both believe that theirs is the correct course of action.


This was just a brief overview of what awaits you in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. But more lies ahead. Stay tuned to see what we have in store!

Wishlist Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy and support the development of the game on our website!

Thank you for being with us. The Emperor protects!

In the universe where war consumes entire worlds and humanity defends itself from threats unimaginable, the setting’s atmosphere matters most. And what contributes to that atmosphere alongside the lighting, music, and thrilling narrative? Of course, the graphics and 3D models of the characters.

In Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, we took a step forward and greatly enhanced the characters' visuals. The brutality and grandeur of Warhammer 40,000 will be sculpted in millions of polygons and textured with the grime of countless battles.

Together with Anton Osipov, the lead of the 3D character production department, we have prepared a detailed article for you. We will delve into the hidden archives of game development to uncover how 2D and 3D artists breathe life into characters from worlds ravaged by war. We’ll study what the improved graphics in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy will look like and how the prayers to the Omnissiah help us with its optimization. From the initial concept to a ready 3D model, we'll witness the birth of the characters that will be part of the Calixis Sector.

Don’t forget to add Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy to your wishlist on Steam and let’s dive into the world of concepts, sculpting, retopology, and texturing!

[h2]It all starts with the concept[/h2]
Intricate is the way of a 3D model, from its conception to a final look that will shine in the game. The first stage of any work is creating a concept, and 3D modelling is no exception to the rule. To begin, our experienced 2D artists prepare the concept art of the future character.

While developing Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, we’ve encountered all the creative challenges of this new setting. After our two previous fantasy projects, we dove into a world of unusual character elements such as augments, pipes, gas masks connected by hoses to backpacks, and massive armour plates. We were not ready for the intricacies they brought, and it has taken us some time to adjust.

This time, when working with Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, we took all these difficulties into account right away and corrected the pipeline. From the start, 2D artists work closely with the 3D team to find and correct nuances that can create technical problems during their implementation. Thus, the potentially problematic places of armour bends, attachment of augments, and joints of gloves and boots are immediately determined and adjusted.


[h2]Here comes the blocking stage [/h2]
After the 2D concept is ready, 3D artists answer the call of duty and start the blocking phase. But what is blocking exactly? The blocking phase is one of the earliest and most crucial steps in asset creation.


Using simple shapes, the artist establishes the basic proportions and silhouette of our character. You can see how a sketch of Aeldari Corsair becomes a model ready to be textured and sculpted in more detail.


The rough and low-detailed version of the model allows the artist to assess the scale of the model compared to other game assets and environments and check the silhouette. At this stage, we can also see potential technical problems, then make significant changes to the structure of the model to correct them. This is not always possible at the stage of 2D concepting, but blocking solves this problem, which makes it one of the most important stages in creating a model.


[h2]Art of sculpting and why we need more polygons[/h2]
When all the checks with the low poly asset are done, we’re good to go! Now it’s time to proceed to sculpting and create the high poly details for our model. During this stage, 3D artists “sculpt” digital clay — they bend forms, create details, add wrinkles, pores, scars and spice everything up with surface imperfections.

As part of the overall graphics and detail improvements for our models in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, we've paid special attention to more thorough materials design. Many hours of painstaking work have been spent on improving the look of fabric, leather, rubber and metal. The artist's aim is to make the materials visually distinguishable at this stage, even when the model has not yet been textured.


Once the sculpting is complete, the retopology must be conducted. To put it simply, the model is being cleaned of excessive polygons that are not needed. Retopology is optimizing sculpts for in-game performance without losing visual accuracy.

Probably the most important change that came to Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy is the increased number of polygons in the final model. More polygons allow us to create a more complicated silhouette, reduce the angularity of the models, and allow light sources to cast more realistic shadows. However, it is important to maintain a balance here, because a large number of polygons will load the system and can result in problems with the game's performance on various devices.

In this picture, you can see how different the final Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader model is from the new model from Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. According to our calculations, the polygon count has doubled!


We would like to emphasize how we reworked the approach to the characters’ hair creation in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. Due to the dedicated work of our amazing tech art department, as well as the endless prayers to the Omnissiah, we now have the ability to use anisotropic reflections, which take the visual of the hair to a brand-new level. Now, not only do the characters’ bodies look more realistic and detailed, but so does their hair. This personal detail helps players to connect with their heroes on an even deeper level. How many strands of hair do you think there are on average in one hairstyle?


[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
A fun fact from the secured archives! The most complex hairstyle in the game so far belongs to the legendary Lord Inquisitor Anton Zerbe. His hairstyle has more polygons than any of our characters or outfits so far.


[h2]UV map and baking[/h2]
For real-time rendering and applying textures to our newly minted model, UV maps are created, and normal and texture maps are baked. We won't bore you with technical details, but rather show you what it looks like at this stage!


[h2]Texturing is a must[/h2]
Time to add colour to our model. In the Imperium, the colour is not merely aesthetic, it’s a matter of purpose and allegiance. It will draw players even deeper into the grim and iconic spirit of Warhammer 40,000. The atmosphere starts with the skin tone and continues to epic armour and weapons colours. Even now, the color of every wrinkle, spike, and claw of the character is given the utmost attention.


Every texture tells a tale. Every augment, every armour crack and scar on the skin tells the story of a challenging and often short existence in a universe full of enemies. When working on the colours, the artists often rely on official paints and miniatures as the ideal example. The palette is not just a tool for the artist — it’s scripture.


[h2]Engine checks[/h2]
Once the digital shell of the character is forged, it must be tested in the fires of the game engine. When all the textures are ready, and every armour piece, augment, or belt sits in place, the 3D model is not yet ready to face the darkness of the game. First, it must be checked on the game engine. Here, the model is examined under the required lighting, and the features of the game engine render settings and various post-processes are taken into account.


When the asset passes all the trials of the game engine, it is ready to be transferred onward to the animators' team. This means the end of the model creation by 2D and 3D artists.


You have now become the bearer of sacred and mysterious knowledge about how characters are created in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, Acolyte. Enhanced models will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the grimdark atmosphere of the far future, capturing its grandeur and unique style of the universe. They won’t just transform your gameplay — they’ll make every playthrough more varied, engaging, and unforgettable.

Don’t forget to add Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy to your wishlist and support the development by becoming a founder on our website!

The Emperor protects.

Do you wish to hear how a blend of sacred Imperial duty and mysterious rising dread sounds? The harsh ruthlessness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and the eternal threat to Humanity, embodied in flawless music.

We proudly present you Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy Main Theme composed by Paweł Perepelica!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Ominous, grim and majestic. This soundtrack catches the very soul of our future game.

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