Creative Assembly’s Ambitious New Game: Lessons from the Past
A New Frontier
Creative Assembly is embarking on an ambitious new project with Total War: Warhammer 40,000, echoing the grand aspirations of their past endeavors. The studio, known for its strategy games, is attempting to bring the vast universe of Warhammer 40,000 to life—a task that promises to be as challenging as it is exciting.
Remembering Empire: Total War
In 2009, the author was engrossed in Empire: Total War, a game that promised to revolutionize the strategy genre with its global scale and focus on firearms. However, the game was plagued with bugs, poor AI, and lackluster siege battles, falling short of its ambitious goals. Despite these issues, the author was initially captivated by the game’s scope and potential.
Warhammer 40,000: The Next Ambition
Fast forward to today, Creative Assembly has announced Total War: Warhammer 40,000, a game that aims to capture the essence of the Warhammer 40,000 universe with its planet‑destroying fleets and space combat. The author is once again struck by the game’s ambitious scope and the promise it holds, but also experiences a sense of déjà vu, recalling the challenges faced with Empire.
Growth and Experience
Over the years, Creative Assembly has grown and evolved, with multiple studios working on the Total War series. The success of Total War: Warhammer, with its massive campaign maps and diverse factions, demonstrates the studio’s ability to handle large‑scale projects. However, the challenges of capturing the vastness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe may require significant concessions.
Recent Hurdles
The author acknowledges that Creative Assembly has faced challenges in recent years, including bugs and issues with DLC releases. Nevertheless, the studio has shown a commitment to addressing these problems and improving the quality of their games.
A Cautiously Optimistic Outlook
The author expresses cautious optimism about Total War: Warhammer 40,000, hoping that the studio’s experience and growth will enable them to deliver on their ambitious vision.
Conclusion
While excitement about the potential of Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is high, the author tempers enthusiasm with a dose of realism, recalling past disappointments and the challenges that lie ahead.
