Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader holds a special place as my favorite game in the grimdark universe. While many fans gravitate towards titles like Space Marine 2 or the Dawn of War series, as a dedicated CRPG player and a huge fan of Baldur’s Gate 3, Rogue Trader felt like it was made for me. It masterfully brought Games Workshop’s iconic setting to life, feeling both authentic and surprisingly accessible. However, its initial launch was plagued by performance issues, making it difficult to fully appreciate despite its brilliance. Thankfully, it has since been polished into an essential Warhammer 40k experience—one I wholeheartedly recommend to any enthusiast of story-driven RPGs.
Even as Rogue Trader continues to evolve, Owlcat Games is already focused on its next big project: Dark Heresy, a new turn-based RPG promising an even edgier, gothic take on the Warhammer 40k universe. During a recent post-Gamescom interview with executive producer Anatoly Shestov, I had the chance to ask what crucial lessons the team took from Rogue Trader’s launch and how they plan to prevent similar issues from affecting Dark Heresy.
“It’s a challenging question,” Shestov admitted. “Within our studio, we’re filled with passionate individuals who strive to create the games they dream of playing themselves. When faced with obstacles or opportunities for improvement, we don’t approach it like typical game developers. Instead, we transform into ‘Vietnam commandos’ with a singular, unyielding mission: ‘I do it or I die.'”
He elaborated, stating that with Rogue Trader, “We were more ambitious than it was practical to be.” This led to the game launching in a less polished state, not due to a desire to cut corners on QA. In fact, months before release, they made the unconventional decision to completely redo the fourth chapter. “Normally, you wouldn’t attempt such a thing in a standard development cycle,” he explained. The tough choice was between delivering a game with fewer bugs or one with greater immersive potential and more “burning” passion injected into it. Ultimately, Owlcat chose the latter, knowingly accepting more initial bugs.
Moving on to Dark Heresy, Shestov surprisingly stated, “We are more ambitious than we were in the Rogue Trader times – and I understand it sounds foolish.” However, he emphasized a key difference: “From my perspective, the team now knows precisely what it wants to accomplish and how to achieve it.” He further revealed that Owlcat is incorporating a more data-driven approach to development timelines. “It’s like telling a developer, ‘I know you believe you can create this boss fight in one week, but our data proves it will take three weeks, not one.’ This strategy helps us mitigate some of the challenges faced in our previous production cycle.”
Having witnessed an hour of Dark Heresy gameplay at Gamescom this year, I can attest that it truly is taking some significant “leaps of faith,” as Shestov described. The game appears larger in scope, enhanced in quality, features more intricate detective work, and boasts a combat system that feels vastly improved. It truly embodies Shestov’s description of being “ambitious as heck,” expanding on all the strengths of Rogue Trader and elevating them to new heights.
While Dark Heresy is slated for a 2026 release, requiring a bit more patience before we can immerse ourselves in what promises to be Owlcat’s most ambitious title yet, there’s plenty to explore in the meantime. If you’re seeking a less grimdark experience for those long winter nights, consider our recommendations for the best space games that offer interstellar adventures without the oppressive tone. Or, if the Pathfinder universe aligns more with your preferences, check out our list of top fantasy games available to play today.
Did Rogue Trader captivate you? We’d love to hear your thoughts – and, let’s be honest, tell us who you ended up romancing in the game!