In Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, you are part of the most dangerous organization of the Imperium. You will get to experience what that feels like later this year – specifically in a very detailed Alpha. Developer Owlcat Games has shared more with us during our FYNG Show for 2026.
When the Inquisition arrives, heads roll: This is all the more true for the Imperium from Warhammer 40,000. After all, it is threatened from all sides – whether from the outside by dangerous Xenos, meaning aliens, or from within by the evil powers of Chaos and the Heretics who have fallen to them.
The task of the Inquisition is to track down and eliminate enemies of the Imperium. For this, you are granted almost unlimited power by the Emperor. It is no wonder that the Inquisition is the most dangerous organization of the Imperium. Once a judgment has been made, there is no one who can appeal against it – and the Inquisition shows no mercy to Heretics.
You belong to this very Inquisition in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, the next RPG from Owlcat Games. They have already created a role-playing hit within the Warhammer 40,000 universe with Rogue Trader. Also, MeinMMO editor and Warhammer expert Benedict Grothaus is a huge fan of the game.
The next big RPG for Warhammer 40,000, but not a sequel
Anton Emelyanov, Brand Manager at Owlcat Games, confirmed to MeinMMO that Dark Heresy is supposed to differ significantly from Rogue Trader in several key aspects:
- Dark Heresy is intended to be smaller than Rogue Trader, but broader in terms of content.
- The developers promise more narrative variety. However, the team is still the same as with Rogue Trader.
The biggest difference is likely the main character: In Dark Heresy, you no longer have access to the resources of a powerful Rogue Trader. However, your role as an Inquisitor opens up completely new possibilities – and a new skillset to solve situations.
As an Inquisitor, you are a detective, judge, and executioner. You will utilize the detective system of Dark Heresy to examine your surroundings. Clues are not only placed visibly in the world but can also appear in dialogues with NPCs. Being attentive and listening well will pay off.
Your word is the truth – do with it what you want
Your investigations may not necessarily lead you to the right conclusion. If you miss an important clue, it may happen that you accuse the wrong person – or, perhaps, you do this intentionally. After all, hardly anyone will contradict an Inquisitor. You are allowed to use this power to eliminate an undesirable person from your path.
While the detective system is one of the biggest innovations of Dark Heresy, combat is still a part of the game. In battles, the morale of the fighters now also plays a role: Enemies will surrender when their morale drops too low. Afterwards, you can decide how you want to proceed with them.
Overall, Dark Heresy is supposed to be darker and “grimmer” than Rogue Trader. Whether specific NPCs from the predecessor will appear in the game, the developers did not disclose. However, players are expected to encounter familiar characters from Warhammer 40,000 (including a very specific Inquisitor).
First Alpha starts in December 2025
There is currently no release date for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. However, you can try out all the new features – and that very soon. Starting December 16, 2025, there will be a free-to-play Alpha of Dark Heresy.
This Alpha is substantial: According to the developers, it will take about 10 to 15 hours to complete. During this time, you can already test the new detective system and see how your character interacts with other Inquisitors and companions (including some Xenos).
MeinMMO will conclude the year 2025 with a proper show. Together with GameStar and GamePro, we will discuss the most exciting games of 2026. You can find the key information about our program here: Find Your Next Game 2026: We’ll discover the most exciting games of the next year together with you
