Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the intense co-op shooter from Fatshark, didn’t have the smoothest launch back in 2022. Despite amazing visuals and thrilling gameplay set in the grim sci-fi universe of Warhammer 40k, many players felt something was missing, particularly with the game’s progression and loot systems. Fast forward to today, and Darktide is celebrating a major surge in players, proving that listening to feedback and consistent updates can truly transform a game.
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The journey from a somewhat disappointing launch to a thriving player base highlights a developer committed to fixing what wasn’t working and adding exciting new content, like a fan-favorite class accompanied by a powerful cyber-dog. This is the story of Darktide’s redemption arc.
The Tough Start and Player Feedback
Fatshark had a strong reputation thanks to their successful Warhammer Fantasy co-op games, Vermintide and Vermintide 2. Players expected Darktide, their jump into the popular Warhammer 40k setting, to build on that success. The core gameplay—four players teaming up to fight hordes of terrifying enemies—was solid and visually stunning.
However, the systems around the core action didn’t quite hit the mark at launch. Players found the progression felt limited, getting new weapons and gear was frustrating, and the overall “meta” outside of missions lacked depth compared to the years of updates Vermintide 2 had received. Player numbers, while starting strong, quickly declined as frustrations grew.
As Design Director Victor Magnuson put it, players really liked the missions but quickly started complaining about “the surrounding systems, the meta systems, like the progression, the loot system, how you acquire weapons, and so on.” Comparisons to the more mature Vermintide 2, which had five years of live updates under its belt, were unavoidable and perhaps set expectations too high for Darktide’s debut.
Turning the Tide: Listening and Rebuilding
Faced with player feedback, Fatshark didn’t give up. They went back to the drawing board, analyzing the systems that weren’t working. The first major area they tackled was the class system. The original plan involved rigid class paths, but they shifted to something much more flexible and player-friendly.
Instead of locking players into narrow roles, Fatshark introduced a sprawling talent tree. This allowed players far more freedom to customize their characters, deciding exactly how they wanted their Veterans, Zealots, Psykers, and Ogryns to play. This significant overhaul was a game-changer.
Warhammer 40,000 Darktide character screen showcasing different class options and player customization
This massive update, which coincided with the game’s launch on Xbox in 2023, marked the beginning of Darktide’s turnaround. Player sentiment improved dramatically, and many who had left returned to find a much-improved experience.
Fetch! The Arrival of the Cyber-Dog Class
The momentum continued into 2024, culminating in the release of the first paid class: the Arbites. For those new to Warhammer 40k, think of the Arbites as a highly specialized, fearsome law enforcement officer. What makes this class truly special? Their constant companion: a loyal and ferocious Cyber-Mastiff dog that attacks enemies on command.
This “pet class” concept was something Fatshark was eager to explore. While they considered making the dog just a temporary ability, they quickly realized the unique value of having the Cyber-Mastiff accompany players throughout entire missions.
Magnuson admitted it was a technical challenge – getting a dog AI to navigate complex environments seamlessly was no small feat. But the effort paid off, adding a distinct and fun dynamic to the gameplay. The popularity of the Arbites class, affectionately dubbed the “dog class” by players, contributed significantly to a recent peak in player numbers on Steam, reaching over 43,000 concurrent users.
Free Updates vs. Paid Additions
Alongside the new class, Darktide has also received updates adding more narrative structure to its missions and continuous improvements. Fatshark made a conscious decision to release most major content updates for free.
Their philosophy is clear: anything that could potentially split the player base, like new missions, game modes, or weapons, is given away for free. A player class, however, is seen as an addition that doesn’t prevent friends from playing together, regardless of who owns the DLC. This allowed Fatshark to earn trust and demonstrate the game’s improved state before asking players to pay extra for a new way to play.
Intense co-op action in Warhammer 40k Darktide with players fighting enemies in a dark sci-fi environment
This patient approach seems to have resonated with the community. The developers felt they needed to get the core systems right and ensure players were happy with the base game before introducing paid content. “It took a while to get there,” Magnuson stated, “but now we feel we’re in a good place, and that we’re ready to do something where we charge a little extra.”
The Fatshark Philosophy: Keep it Installed
Fatshark’s experience with Darktide mirrors some of the post-launch challenges they faced with Vermintide 2. Veteran players familiar with the studio understood that improvements would come, advising new players to be patient. Now, the entire player base seems to have adjusted to Fatshark’s rhythm of updates and the game’s evolution. They aim for roughly a three-month cadence for smaller updates and around a year for major overhauls, with smaller events in between.
Crucially, Fatshark isn’t designing Darktide to be a game that demands every waking moment. Unlike some live-service games pushing constant engagement, their philosophy is much more laid-back. “Our philosophy is that, as long as you come back when we do an update, we’re happy,” Magnuson explained. They understand players play other games.
The ultimate goal for Darktide? Simple, yet effective: “Our goal is to make you not uninstall the game, basically,” he concluded. If players keep it installed, ready to jump back in for the next update or when friends want to play, Fatshark considers that a win.
Looking ahead, Fatshark is committed to supporting Darktide for the long haul, citing a “minimum two years” of planned content, drawing confidence from Vermintide 2’s seven years of ongoing support. The recent surge in players, undoubtedly fueled by the popular new class, reinforces this positive outlook. Darktide’s journey from a rocky launch to a thriving co-op experience is a testament to the power of developer perseverance and listening to the community.
