New Details On The Major Class System Rework Coming To Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is getting a significant overhaul to the game's class system.

The primary goal of this update is to provide players with more freedom in defining their characters and playstyles in the looter shooter. While currently Darktide features a traditional class system, with preset loadouts and abilities, it is being replaced with a more flexible approach. The aim is to allow players to create unique characters by mixing and matching gameplay and cosmetic choices, emphasizing the concept of players forging their own narratives within the game.

To achieve this, Fatshark has introduced complex talent trees, offering a wide range of build possibilities and playstyles. Classes have evolved into what the developers refer to as "domains" — broad categories that encompass various character archetypes. For example, a character from the Veteran domain can be a sharpshooter, a squad leader, or a commando/spec ops character. This shift in design encourages players to explore diverse builds and playstyles, catering to both lore-focused and gameplay-centric preferences.

This particular development process involved rapid prototyping, theoretical design, and extensive playtesting. The team created around 30 different builds, which served as the basis for the talent trees. They aimed to strike a balance between providing clear and easily identifiable options for new players while allowing for intricate customization and experimentation for more experienced players. The design approach prioritized gameplay and player choice over rigid layout rules, resulting in flexible and dynamic talent trees.