Dawn of War 4 developers introduce multi-attack system to reduce clicks

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 launches later this year as a return to the best RTS in the Warhammer 40K universe. Alongside reviving the fan-favorite Sync-Kill system, KingArt Games developed a new multi-attack system that changes how players interact with combat.

In an interview with PCGamer, game director Jan Theysen explained the team is working to reduce the number of clicks when playing Dawn of War 4. RTS games feature numerous mechanics and parameters requiring attention. By decreasing the clicks needed to perform actions, KingArt aims to create a more dynamic and engaging strategy game than previous entries in the series.

Changes include adding WASD camera controls so players no longer need to drag their cursor to the screen edge or click the minimap to survey the battlefield.

It drove me insane. When I played Dawn of War: Definitive Edition, that I had to move my cursor to the edge of the screen, or pan it. And you can't change it, it's not an option. We basically said, we need to make sure that, in our game, we have all the controls players would expect in an RTS and also to make them configurable.

The main innovation is the multi-attack system. Players can select units with left-click, then select all enemies for attack with a held right-click drag, providing more speed and flexibility while maintaining precise control through traditional single clicks.

When there are multiple enemies on the screen you can say: 'Okay, I want my selected units to attack these units.' The system picks somewhat sensible opponents, but you can then go in and optimise, like I want my units to attack these guys on the right flank, but I want these units to attack this vehicle.

While Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 looks like a traditional RTS, KingArt hopes to push the genre forward with smart changes while preserving the foundation of the original Dawn of War, which remains the highest-rated entry. No concrete release date exists yet, but the game is expected this year. Meanwhile, you can add it to your wishlist.

Dawn of War 4 won't be the only Warhammer 40K strategy releasing in coming years. Total War: Warhammer 40K was announced in December, though it's not expected before 2027. Despite both being strategy games, developers aren't worried about competing with each other.