Astra Militarum Defends Against Ork Onslaught: New Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 Gameplay Revealed at BiliBili World 2025
Creative Assembly and SEGA have unveiled fresh gameplay footage from their highly anticipated strategy title Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 at BiliBili World 2025, currently taking place in Shanghai, China. The new demonstration showcases an intense battle between the Astra Militarum, humanity’s vast military force, and the savage Ork hordes, giving fans their most detailed look yet at how the beloved Warhammer 40,000 universe will translate into the Total War franchise’s signature real-time tactical combat system.
The footage reveals the Astra Militarum, also known as the Imperial Guard, deploying their characteristic combination of massed infantry formations, heavy armor, and devastating artillery against waves of bloodthirsty Orks. Players witnessed Leman Russ battle tanks rolling across war-torn terrain while squadrons of Guardsmen held defensive positions, supported by Basilisk artillery pieces raining destruction on the greenskin attackers. The demonstration highlighted how Creative Assembly has adapted the franchise’s traditional gameplay mechanics to accommodate the futuristic warfare of the 41st millennium, complete with ranged combat, vehicle warfare, and the brutal close-quarters fighting that defines the Warhammer 40,000 setting.
The Astra Militarum represents one of the most iconic factions in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, serving as the primary military force of the Imperium of Man. Unlike the superhuman Space Marines, the Imperial Guard consists of ordinary humans who must rely on overwhelming numbers, combined arms tactics, and sheer determination to overcome the countless threats facing humanity. Their inclusion in the game demonstrates Creative Assembly’s commitment to capturing the diverse nature of warfare in the grim darkness of the far future, where countless soldiers sacrifice their lives daily to hold the line against xenos, heretics, and daemons.
The Orks, meanwhile, embody one of the most persistent and dangerous threats in the galaxy. These brutal greenskins live for warfare and destruction, viewing combat as both a religious experience and the highest form of entertainment. In the Warhammer 40,000 lore, Orks reproduce through spores and can never be truly eradicated from a planet once they have established a presence. Their ramshackle but surprisingly effective technology, combined with their near-limitless numbers and love of violence, makes them a perfect adversary for showcasing the game’s large-scale battle mechanics.
This Shanghai reveal follows Creative Assembly’s successful track record with the Warhammer Fantasy license, which produced the critically acclaimed Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy. Those games revolutionized the franchise by introducing magical abilities, monstrous units, and flying creatures to the traditional Total War formula, selling millions of copies worldwide and introducing countless players to Games Workshop’s dark fantasy setting. The transition to Warhammer 40,000 represents perhaps an even greater challenge, as the developers must adapt their systems to accommodate futuristic warfare while maintaining the strategic depth that fans expect.
BiliBili World 2025 serves as an appropriate venue for this reveal, given the massive and growing appetite for both strategy games and Warhammer content in the Chinese market. The annual convention, hosted by China’s leading video platform BiliBili, attracts hundreds of thousands of gaming enthusiasts and has become an increasingly important stop on the international gaming event circuit. SEGA’s decision to showcase major gameplay footage in Shanghai underscores the publisher’s recognition of China’s significance to their global strategy and the Warhammer brand’s expanding international appeal.
While Creative Assembly has not yet announced a specific release date for Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000, the increasing frequency of gameplay demonstrations suggests development is progressing steadily. Industry analysts speculate that the game could potentially launch within the next eighteen months, though the studio is known for taking the time necessary to deliver polished products. With the Warhammer 40,000 franchise enjoying unprecedented popularity thanks to recent video game releases like Space Marine 2 and the ongoing success of the tabletop game, anticipation for this strategic adaptation continues to build among fans worldwide.
