Everything We Know About Mechanicus 2

The original Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus game is one of my favorite PC games, largely because it combines two awesome things: the Warhammer 40,000 universe and the tactical, turn-based combat popularized by the original X-COM: UFO Defense PC game, published by Microprose way back in 1994.

The original Mechanicus started me down the path of both playing 40K for the first time and helped me pick my first (and still favorite) 40K faction: the Adeptus Mechanicus. I'd played Warhammer Fantasy Battles for a year of two way back in the early 1990s, then went on a Warhammer hiatus for more than 30 years. The imposed hermitude of Covid and the release of Mechanicus for the PC were two of the things that led me to AdMech and 40K, so I was understandably interested when I heard Mechanicus 2 had been announced.

I started gathering up all the information I could about this new release, and I thought it would be useful to share everything I've learned in one place, hence this blog post. I'll be updating this document continuously until the retail release of the game, so kindly drop a comment here (or email me) if you've come across information that isn't included here.

Updated: Nov 6th, 2024 - Added updated information about an official release date, controllable units, and languages supported at launch.

When will Mechanicus 2 be released?

According to an article by Video Games on SI, Mechanicus 2 will be released sometime in 2025.

What platforms will Mechanicus 2 be released for?

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 will be available for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and on PC / Windows via the Epic Game Store and Steam platforms.

What languages will be supported in Mechanicus 2?

According to the Mechanicus 2 FAQ in the Mechanicus 2 Discord channel, the game will ship with language support for English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese Simplified.

What are the system requirements for Mechanicus 2?

To be announced.

Who are the developer and publisher of Mechanicus 2?

The game is being developed by @BulwarkStudios and will be published by
@KasedoGames.

How many playable factions will there be?

Two: the Adeptus Mechanicus (led by Magos Dominus Faustinius) and the Necrons (led by Vargard Nefershah). There will be two narrative campaigns, so one for each faction.

What's the plot/storyline?

From the Mechanicus 2 game description on Steam:

"After millennia of slumber, Vargard Nefershah mobilises her dynasty’s legions to annihilate the Adeptus Mechanicus interlopers who unknowingly settled upon her world. Across the galaxy, Magos Dominus Faustinius is summoned to bring his hard-won expertise to bear and ensure the Necrons do not succeed. The conflict soon becomes a crucible of unanticipated significance, drawing to it external actors stranger and more deadly still."

There's also a bit more about the game setting and word that Black Library author Ben Counter is returning to help with the game story:

"Veteran author Ben Counter, best known for his Black Library novels, returns to tell the next chapter of the Mechanicus saga. Atone for past failures as Faustinius in his ongoing war against the ancient Necron species, and follow the inexorable rise of Vargard Nefershah as she seeks to reclaim the dynasty’s crownworld from the Adeptus Mechanicus."

Any hint on how both factions will play?

According to the Mechanicus 2 game description on Steam:

"New environmental mechanics require you to maneuver like never before. Play to your chosen faction’s strengths and weaknesses – take cover behind terrain as the Mechanicus, or destroy it as the Necrons."

What units will players be able to control?

In an interview with Video Games on SI, the Mechanicus 2 developers are quoted as saying:

Players can expect “pretty much the full infantry range from the tabletop” as playable units for both available factions, which is pretty exciting for those with Mechanicus or Necron armies at home.

While the statement quoted here is a bit ambiguous—it's unclear if the developer is specifically referring to units with the "Infantry" keyword on the 10th Edition tabletop, or perhaps everything except larger vehicles—one can assume that it will essentially have the same type of units as the original Mechanicus game did, which may mean that larger vehicles like the AdMech Onager Dunecrawler and Archaeopter Stratoraptor—or the Monolith and Doomsday Ark on the Necron side—are unlikely to appear. That said, I'll update this section as more info becomes available.

Anything else on expected gameplay?

It appears that the game will be focused on a single world, and will have a top-level strategic layer where players focus on "...capturing and defending regions from the forces of the foe while generating and managing crucial resources."

This strategic view will also let players "...manage each of your territory’s garrisons and assemble your forces wisely for each mission, choosing from a vastly expanded selection of fighters from each faction’s range."

Will the cognition system carry over into Mechanicus 2?

In the original Mechanicus game, cognition was the game mechanic that involved players collecting (and spending) cognition points to undertake actions. According to an article by Harvey Randall at PC Gamer, that system will be tweaked and improved in Mechanicus 2:

"In Mechanicus 2, however, every unit has a unique way of collecting Cognition for your crew—for example, your Servitor units (beefy, mindless drones created by stuffing a bunch of tech into a meat puppet) give you Cognition whenever you use them to soak up damage. Other units give you cognition by completing similar objectives, such as shooting enemies outside a minimum distance."—Harvey Randall, PC Gamer

What about the Mechanicus 2 music and soundtrack?

Kasedo has confirmed that composer Guillaume David—responsible for the critically-acclaimed music from the first Mechanicus game—will also be composing the soundtrack for Mechanicus 2.

Are there any official Mechanicus 2 online communities?

Kasedo/Bulwark have launched an official Mechanicus 2 Discord channel, and some unofficial discussion about the game can be found in the Mechanicus subreddit.

What about official art assets and other materials?

There are some official Mechanicus 2 desktop wallpapers and a press kit folder with key art, logos, and other press materials.

Is there a trailer for Mechanicus 2?

An announcement trailer was released in May 2024 as part of the Warhammer Skulls 2024 online game festival. As of this writing, no other official video content has been released.