Games Workshop was compelled to temporarily take its official website, Warhammer.com, offline after scalpers disrupted the pre-order launch for the special edition of "Siege of Terra: End and Ruin."
The company had opened pre-orders for the highly anticipated special edition anthology, "Siege of Terra: End and Ruin," which collects short stories set in the aftermath of the Siege of Terra and the Horus Heresy. For those unfamiliar, the Horus Heresy refers to the galactic civil war among the Space Marines that occurred 10,000 years before the current Warhammer 40,000 timeline. This foundational event shaped the grimdark universe of 40K and explains how the Emperor was ultimately interred upon the Golden Throne.
"Siege of Terra: End and Ruin" is a major release for 40K lore enthusiasts, and the special edition is particularly sought-after. It boasts a leather-effect cover with gold foil accents, gilt-edged pages, and a detailed metal emblem of a shattered Imperial eagle.
Games Workshop had indicated that the special edition would be available "strictly while stocks last," with sales beginning at 10 AM UK time on June 10. The company also informed fans that a queue system would be implemented "to ensure fair distribution."
Unfortunately, this queue system led to significant issues, leaving many eager fans unable to proceed with their pre-orders. As complaints flooded social media, Discord servers, and subreddits, Warhammer.com unexpectedly went offline, leaving everyone puzzled.
And so, it begins
byu/Jello429 inWarhammer40k
Frustration mounted among those who had set aside time specifically for the pre-order launch, only to be left without the book. Eventually, Games Workshop issued a rare public statement on the incident, explaining that it had taken the site offline after detecting scalpers circumventing its security measures.
“Scalpers attempted to use bots to bypass our normal safeguards,” Games Workshop stated. “Our vigilant Tech Priests identified this activity in real-time, prompting us to take Warhammer.com offline.”
As a result, the "Siege of Terra: End and Ruin" special edition is currently listed as unavailable on Warhammer.com, replaced by a notification sign-up page. Games Workshop confirmed that the special edition will still be released, emphasizing, "we’re just absolutely determined that real fans get it."
“All erroneous orders are being purged,” the company added. “This is our number one priority. We appreciate your patience as we resolve this situation.”
The statement has helped to alleviate some of the frustration among fans who expected a smoother launch. Some are viewing Games Workshop's response as a "small victory" against scalpers, although skepticism remains regarding the company's long-term ability to combat bot activity. Suggestions from the community include implementing a raffle system, similar to those used by other companies for high-demand items, or even requiring potential buyers to pass a Horus Heresy knowledge test to verify their fan status.
In reality, Games Workshop has faced pre-order challenges for years, with special edition book releases frequently targeted by scalpers who resell them at massively inflated prices. All attention is now focused on how the company will manage the eventual re-launch of pre-orders for the "Siege of Terra: End and Ruin" special edition.
It's also worth noting that Games Workshop is a substantial enterprise. The Nottingham-based company is performing so successfully that it recently distributed a £20 million (approximately $27 million) bonus to its employees.
While Games Workshop's core business revolves around selling miniatures for tabletop wargames like Warhammer 40,000, it is increasingly becoming an intellectual property powerhouse. The company generates significant revenue from hit video games, such as last year's Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and animations like the Warhammer 40,000 Secret Level episode on Amazon. Games Workshop and Amazon have recently finalized an agreement for Henry Cavill's Warhammer 40,000 Cinematic Universe, which will include films and TV series. Space Marine 3 is also currently in development.
