Warhammer 40k has had a strange relationship with video games over the years. There have been numerous attempts to fit the IP into a successful franchise, and, more often than not, it hasn't gone well. However, with the changes to the board game, it may be time to release a new 40K FPS.
Warhammer 40K is a tabletop wargame developed by Games Workshop, but there have been several attempts to bring the game to different genres. Two of the most noticeable were in 2003 when Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior was released for the PlayStation 2, and in 2011 when Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was released. It's been a while since a story-based single-player Warhammer game was released, and now is the perfect time to do so.
When Fire Warrior was first released, it was to promote a new race coming to the main game, the Tau. The game put them at the forefront of the campaign and used Fire Warrior to promote everything they could about the species and their weapons. While there hasn't been a new race released for a long time, there has been a change to the game. Recently the tabletop game moved into its ninth edition and, surprisingly for many, moved the lore forwards. Cadia has fallen and the galaxy has been split in half as the Eye of Terror begins to expand. This change is perfect to set a shooter-style game as more planets are consumed by the daemon menace and the forces of Chaos spread out across the Imperium in roving bands.
40K as a franchise is ideal for a shooter, which was proven by Space Marine. However, Space Marine only brushed the surface of the weapons and vehicles that exists in-universe. For instance, the Ork race has some of the strangest and wackiest selections of guns and tech in media. One of these includes a gun that teleports Snotlings, small goblin-like creatures, into the armor of their enemies. There are tanks the size of small cities and giant robots that resemble walking cathedrals. These have appeared in RTS games but never in the high-tech graphics that modern consoles can produce. The sheer size of some of the things in 40K could dwarf players and create truly epic spectacles.
Enemy variety is often what makes a good shooter, and 40k has a huge variety of races for the player to fight. For instance, the game Space Hulk: Deathwing showed players only some of the terrors of the Tyranid race. There are giant monsters that consume everything before them, chaotic monstrosities that defy all logic and more in the 40K universe. Not only is there a variety of foes, but a huge variety of planets for players to fight on. 40K has jungle worlds, demon worlds, acid-drenched sludge worlds and everything in between. 40K is also based in an entire universe with numerous stories and wars occurring simultaneously; this allows numerous different stories to take place without impacting the lore of the game.
With everything that's happening in the world of Warhammer 40K, it is the perfect time for a new game, and all the factors are there to contribute to something truly great. The popularity of the latest games on steam like Necromunda indicates a market for this kind of game and the ongoing 40k narrative. Also, the quarantine has lead to an increase in sales for the board game, so there is clearly a growing interest in the universe. The far future may only know war, but players will relish the chance to get involved and should be given that opportunity.