Creative Assembly has provided a deeper look into the massive scale of Total War: Warhammer 40,000, specifically focusing on its planets and battle maps. In a recent livestream, battle product owner David Petry and art director Kevin McDowell showcased the game's vast environments and environmental depth.

Planetary Scale and Diverse Biomes

The developers provided a first look at "hive waste worlds," grim settings where players navigate various terrains. The scale of these planets is determined by specific biomes, which include:

  • Arid
  • Temperate
  • Ice
  • Waste

In addition to terrain, civilization types—such as frontier or civilized—will determine population density. Petry explained that combat will occur region-to-region across continents, with players aiming to capture key locations. This allows for a variety of encounters, ranging from desolate wasteland battles to much more dense, choke-point-oriented fights within hives.

Regarding the scope of space travel, McDowell noted that while systems will feature a "handful" of planets, it will not be "dozens and dozens."

Massive Battle Maps and Environmental Destruction

The livestream also introduced new battle maps, expanding on the previously revealed Upper Hive Plateau. Petry described the scale of these environments as "absolutely honking," emphasizing that even intense combat zones are incredibly large. He noted that players can often fit a sizable army within these massive areas.

A major shift for Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is the introduction of environmental destruction. This mechanic allows players to alter battlefield density based on their tactical needs. For example, if a player values line of sight, they can simply destroy forests or buildings to clear the way.

The destruction mechanics offer several strategic advantages:

  • Destroying forests to remove cover.
  • Leveling buildings to create more open spaces for larger armies.
  • Utilizing orbital bombardments to cause widespread devastation.

While not every object on the map is destructible, the ability to bring buildings down on enemies creates a whole new layer of strategy compared to previous titles. Creative Assembly expects to reveal more about Total War: Warhammer 40,000 by the end of June, though there is currently no confirmed release date.