Slitherine Acquires Blood Bowl License in Busy Week for Strategy Games

Slitherine has acquired the Blood Bowl license from Games Workshop, marking a notable transfer in wargaming publishing this year. This news comes during a busy week for strategy games, featuring announcements like new Company of Heroes 3 DLC, a multiplayer reveal for Dawn of War IV, a delay for Battleplan, and a tease for Total War: Warhammer III DLC.

Slitherine, a UK publisher recognized for games like Panzer Corps 2 and Battle of the Bulge, has been expanding its portfolio with Games Workshop. Bringing Blood Bowl into the mix — a franchise that’s sold over 1.5 million copies across its modern digital versions — gives Slitherine a solid presence in GW’s sports-related IP alongside its existing grimdark titles.

The news about Company of Heroes 3 DLC comes at a tough time for Relic Entertainment’s WWII strategy game. Currently, it holds a 59% positive rating on Steam from 19,785 reviews, which is a “Mixed” rating that has followed the game since its launch in February 2023. Priced at $23.99 and with around 6,540 concurrent players, it’s still active. However, the community’s goodwill is lacking. The new DLC will need to tackle structural issues rather than just adding more content.

This week, Dawn of War IV showcased its multiplayer gameplay, giving the Warhammer 40,000 RTS community a closer look at how Relic plans to approach competitive play in this eagerly awaited sequel. The original Dawn of War II built a dedicated multiplayer community despite its small-squad focus. How well Dawn of War IV strikes a balance between accessibility and depth will be crucial for maintaining a competitive scene in the crowded RTS market of 2026.

In other news, Battleplan, the turn-based tactical game, confirmed a delay without providing a new release window. While delays happen often in the strategy genre, the absence of a revised date indicates the team is still working through fundamental issues, not just fine-tuning a nearly finished product. To wrap up the week, Creative Assembly teased new DLC for Total War: Warhammer III. Since its launch in 2022, the game has seen over a dozen DLC packs, generating most of its post-launch revenue.

By The Numbers — Company of Heroes 3

Steam Review Score	59% Positive (Mixed)
Total Steam Reviews	19,785
Current Concurrent Players	6,540
Current Steam Price	$23.99
Original Release Date	February 23, 2023

The community’s feelings about Company of Heroes 3 remain quite harsh. One Steam reviewer captured the frustration succinctly: “Your campaign is bad and you should feel bad.” This sentiment has popped up frequently in recent reviews, indicating either a coordinated response or that this criticism reflects a widespread disappointment with the single-player content. The new DLC will face similar scrutiny.

What To Watch

• Slitherine’s Blood Bowl plans: Keep an eye out for news on whether Slitherine will continue the Cyanide-developed line or bring in a new studio for the franchise. That decision will show how much they plan to invest in the IP.
• Company of Heroes 3 DLC reception: With a Mixed Steam rating and an outspoken community, this DLC drop will serve as a referendum on whether Relic can improve player sentiment three years after launch.
• Dawn of War IV multiplayer details: A complete reveal of ranked modes, faction numbers, and beta access timing will clarify if this title aims for a long-term competitive scene or if it primarily focuses on single-player with multiplayer as an afterthought.