Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Is Out This May, Watch The New Trailer

Get ready to blast away pixelated daemons of Chaos because Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is releasing sooner than you might think. The ’90s-inspired FPS is set to launch May 23 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

Developer Auroch Digital dropped the release date on the PlayStation Blog while detailing how the retro shooter pays homage to classics like Doom. For example, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun lead designer Grant Stewart says the FPS “uses a hybrid system taking the best of modern technology and slamming it, pixels first, into the old ways.” Basically, the studio creates 3D models for enemies and then takes pictures of them to ultimately make 2D flipbook animations. This process creates a vintage look for the game.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun will also utilize modern AI to update enemy behaviors, since a lot of shooters from decades ago could feel like a “very sophisticated target range,” according to Stewart. That means foes can dynamically spawn depending on player position in addition to appearing in handpicked spots by the developer.

All of this work aims to make Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun feel like a lost shooter from the ’90s that’s being remastered. However, it’s a new game that was originally unveiled at the Warhammer Skulls event in June 2022. The FPS won’t be the only Warhammer game on the way this year either, with Space Marine 2 also planned for 2023.