2012 40K Release Schedule

[Bigred]

Latest word on the Street:

August:
Flyer Wave 3 models: (Tau, Eldar, Tyranid or Chaos)
Chaos Space Marines

September:
40k Boxed set

October:
Dark Angels

November+:
Hobbit

This sounds like a massive product dump that normally would be spread out over several more months being compressed to maximize sales before The Hobbit arrives.

[eldargal]

Though we also have rumours that CSM are coming in September alongisde the starter set.

[Bigred]

I'm thinking August will be super packed with one of those very early month - very late month dual release slots.

[The Dave]

That sounds pretty decent to me for a schedule. Looking forward to get a mini-rulebook right around my birthday, not to mention some SICK new Chaos models. :D

[Wolfshade]

Lots of instore events for the kiddies :)

[energongoodie]

The way leaks have been going of late, when do you guys think it is likely we will get our first look at the new flyers?

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

Some point early next week if rumours prove true.

[eldargal]

Advance Orders will go up on the 28th, so as TDA says anytime next week depending when WD gets 'leaked'.

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

Logic win! :D

[energongoodie]

Excellent
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/29/100276794_548c83c4eb.jpg


I want new Tau stuff pretty bad.

[Learn2Eel]

Will it be Chaos released alongside the flyers or the flyers on August 4th and Chaos later in the month I wonder?

[sleedog1]

hurry up with the spacemarine and chaos marine codexes, thats what i say

[Psychosplodge]

Think about it though, if they're doing full list releases, then surely to keep the revenue up through the entire cycle, they've either got to release more independent characters and small allied contingents with wd rules, or customisation kits like what FW have done for years for space marines and guard.

or they've got to do limited runs of things like space hulk and dreadfleet,

It'll be the most interesting in 12 months or so when they've run through all the main races, I could see a new version of blood bowl or WHquest on the cards...
It definitely makes WD potentially more interesting again...

[symes2012]

anyone suspect a dark angels codex /a chaos codex and the starter set will come out together

[ragnarcissist]

anyone suspect a dark angels codex /a chaos codex and the starter set will come out together

GW wouldnt do this, you make more money by spacing out the dates

[Wildeybeast]

Latest word on the Street:

August:
Flyer Wave 3 models: (Tau, Eldar, Tyranid or Chaos)
Chaos Space Marines

September:
40k Boxed set

October:
Dark Angels

November+:
Hobbit

This sounds like a massive product dump that normally would be spread out over several more months being compressed to maximize sales before The Hobbit arrives.

That leaves no new Warhammer release until January (unless they did it alongside the box set, though that would be unlikely). I would find that rather surprising, though not implausible.

[gendoikari87]

Now is the time to buy black reach on Ebay i'm getting several terminators for 10 bucks for 5 terminators.

[Emerald Rose Widow]

That leaves no new Warhammer release until January (unless they did it alongside the box set, though that would be unlikely). I would find that rather surprising, though not implausible.

It doesn't really surprise me though, especially considering the new release of 6th edition, they wanna capitalize on all the new hype as fast as possible, especially with these new flier rules, I can see them pushing this all out as fast as humanly possible.

[gresha]

With the string of Fantasy outnumbering full Codex's in the last year and a 1/2 I really don't see why pumping out say Chaos Marines, Dark Angels, Eldar and Tau within the next year while getting another 1- 2 Fantasy books (Warriors of Chaos + ?) would be a large issue. I also think that maybe the slow down in 40k books may be because they are looking to put out a decent amount in a short time much like Fantasy in the 2010 (3 40k books / 1 Fantasy book which was out before 8th edition dropped) compared to 2011 (1.5 40k books / 3 Fantasy books)

Fantasy: O&G(2011), Tomb Kings(2011), Ogre Kingdom(2011), Vampire Count(2012), The Empire(2012)
40,000: Grey Knights(2011), Sisters of Battle(White Dwarf 2011), Necrons(2012)

[Learn2Eel]

I hope Chaos are part of the August release, everyone seems to think they are - apart from a few sources. I really can't wait, it just sucks that I am trying to get my Grey Knights up at the moment. Still, I can't wait to go to town with those daemonic dragons!

[gcsmith]

Can't be excited for the hobbit, last time I cared about LOTR was when war of the ring came out, then they turned into a specialist game causing most managers to ban it.

FFS they finally make LOTR playable and fun and then ban if from stores after making people spend loads of money on trays and a book.

[Bigred]

Also, I'm not saying they can't find a way to shoehorn WFB Warriors of Chaos in there.

But it sure looks like the powers that be are deciding to go full throttle on 6th to keep the momentum up. Maybe they learned from the WFB 8th debacle, that one shouldn't release a new edition then put out the first new army book for it 6 months later.

Word on the street is GW is very displeased with their distribution for the 6th hardbacks and there were lots of issues with getting the books out to many regions of the globe - lots of retailers were left wanting. They could be trying to play catchup by dumping lots of product in a short period to cause a splash of sales.

[Kawauso]

Evidently there is no new codex next month, just a leaflet in WD with some small updates for Daemons in WFB and 40k.

Sauce:
http://natfka.blogspot.ca/2012/07/csms-not-in-new-white-dwarf.html

Sadface if true.

[Learn2Eel]

Seems a bit strange that almost everyone is pointing to an August release, now a few people are saying October at the earliest?
Hopefully it is bollocks. Also, the same rumours suggest some very implausible events; i.e. Soul Grinders appearing in Fantasy for Daemons.
I guess we will know in a few days for certain - I wouldn't mind a Daemons (re)release but GW should have realized by now how astounding the level of anticipation is for the new Chaos Space Marines....

Also there was that store that put up a "Codex Release" party for August 4th, then took it down hours later.

[Uncle Nutsy]

My thoughts on the GW release schedule is this; and should be taken as an observation and in no way as an interjection of any sort.

What bewilders me is how GW has been so haphazard about their release schedule with models, codexes and core books. There is no set schedule, no real order that i've seen, nothing that makes even a lick of sense outside of the 4 year cycle of core books.

the biggest headscratcher I have is centered around the codex/models release schedule. There are books out there that only has a portion of their models available, some more than others.

I would hope they've learned a little something when they released the necrons codex, then released the entire model range. It's better than before, but even then it was piecemeal.

What makes even less sense is the fact they've released the entire model range for Tau empire, but I don't know how long that took to complete.

So with that in mind.. why are they still dragging their collective butts when it comes to releasing the entire range for the rest of the codexes? It makes about as much sense as Russian Soldiers playing guitar while kicking a soccer ball. :confused:

[eldargal]

A daemon wave has been rumoured for some time now. All that has occured is one set of rumours (CSM in August) seems to have been wrong, and another (daemon wave soon) was right.

[Dalleron]

Why is GW dragging it's butt on models for the codex's?

Why is GW dragging it's butt on some codex themselves for both major systems. Templars are 4th ed, DA late 4th, early 5th?

It's worse in fantasy. Brettonia is from 5th I believe, but I could be wrong on that. But that is 3 editions with the same codex. Dwarfs are late 6th, so they're 2 eds behind. How do they let that happen? It only furthers the "not popular enough to warrant a new codex, so they don't get a new codex" cycle.

It's been said that there is no rhyme/reason for GW's release cycle. Book writers pick what they want to write on, regardless of age of codex out there. How else do VC, O&G and Empire get new codex before the Brettonians, and Woodies. But by all accounts, no one seems to have a way to make Wood Elves work in the current fantasy edition.

[eldargal]

Dalleron is correct, from what we know (some questions in this vein were asked at last years GD OZ*) a list is put up and designers pick a project they are enthusiastic about. There will be some marketing considerations too, high-selling armies will get preferential treatment to some extent**. Some projects are much more intensive and take a long time (Dark Eldar took around six years to be revamped from start to release apparently).

The general idea behind the schedule is to give as many armies some kind of attention in the short term, hence waves. Releaseing everything at once didn't seem to work out well for GW and it led to people having nothing to look forward to for years until their codex was re-released. It actually makes a lot of sense, hobbyists whining notwithstanding.

The key to remember is that GW are a company and they have access to the full picture of sales, feedback both in-store and online etc. A hobbyists with an agenda (such as the desire for their favourite army to get a new codex/wave) is not an impartial source nor are they operating from a position of knowledge of the many facotrs which may contribute to a book being releases sooner or later.


*Apparently only Australians thought to ask sensible questions, everyone else just whined about Finecast and asked about future releases despite being told such questions wouldn't be answered.

**Codex: Space Marines is apparently not getting the first 6th ed codex despite claims that this would 'always' be the case. Tomb Kings and Ogre Kingdoms received early 8th edition book despite not being great sellers either.

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

And now we find out this week how the hammer falls, keep your eyes to the skies.

[Learn2Eel]

With the new teaser trailer, it looks like the Daemon wave.

But I can't believe all of those rumours, i.e. the Soul Grinders in Fantasy.

[SotonShades]

Teaser would appear to validate the C:CSM in august (28th being the announcement, for a release on the 4th) even if there are no actual Chaos Marines in it.

Whether or not this validates the whole schedule, we will have to see, but it looks like a good start.

[Learn2Eel]

After my initial shock I'd say I have to agree, there's definitely a Chaos theme - i.e. not just daemonic - about the month that I can sense.
It would be a hilarious surprise if Daemons were actually re-introduced back into the codex :D

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

Maybe Chaos will get a giant release? So new C:CSM and also a Daemon Wave?

[Learn2Eel]

That wouldn't be surprising, both codexes/ranges are in desperate need of updating. Best to do both now and get it over and done with.

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

My thoughts exactly, we'll wait and see later in the week methinks, maybe tonight or tomorrow?