Interview with Jon Gillard, Head of Warhammer Licensing

[Khalan]

Not sure if I saw this posted:
https://www.licenseglobal.com/video-games/qa-jon-gillard-evp-global-licensing-games-workshop-owner-warhammer
 
 

Q&A with Jon Gillard, EVP, Global Licensing, Games Workshop, Owner of ‘Warhammer’
 

License Global spoke with Jon Gillard, executive vice president, global licensing, Games Workshop, owner of “Warhammer,” to discuss the raft of launches bringing the vast world of “Warhammer” to life. 
 
How is this new emphasis on content and entertainment going to change the game for the “Warhammer” universe? 
There are many millions of “Warhammer” fans worldwide, some who are currently very actively engaged through the hobby angle and some who never got into that side, or don't do it anymore, but do read the books or play the video games. What they all have in common is a love of the IP and an incredible appetite for content based on it. It's been our long-held desire to serve that need and doing it in entertainment formats is the next logical step. 
 
In addition, we know there is a massive global audience for really cool, exciting sci-fi and fantasy, with great stories and characters in unique, distinctive and compelling settings. The “Warhammer” universe is unlike anything else in the world, and we've already got lots of experience doing this through our Black Library novels business, so we're excited to repeat this success through various entertainment projects. 
 
To ensure we're addressing both current and potential fans, we have developed a two-pronged approach. Firstly, there is already a lot of great fan content out there. Some of that is being brought in-house to sit alongside other internally generated animation projects. All this content will be aimed squarely at “Warhammer” fans and will provide levels of depth and nuance for this highly “Warhammer” savvy group. Secondly, in licensing, we will develop big content projects in partnership with companies worldwide that we expect to appeal to that broader audience that is less knowledgeable and will need more accessible offerings. I guess a similar comparison would be the difference between the sort of fans who read all the Avengers comics ever written (which I probably have!) and the broader group who watch the movies. Of course, it's vital that all the content is authentic to the IP and that any larger-scale projects are still appealing to the core fans.  
 
This content strategy also enables us to build specific franchises within the wider IP and build licensing programs based on those interpretations. This is a strategy we are already applying to some of our video gaming IPs. For example, the highly anticipated game “Warhammer” 40,000 Darktide' – releasing next year off the back of the hugely successful ‘Vermintide’ games – will have a host of associated licensed products and programs around it from launch.
 
What was your first foray into gaming, and how can players, audiences and licensees expect that gaming brand to grow? 
Well, we've been a gaming/miniatures company since the very beginning, “Warhammer” the tabletop game was originally released in 1983 and as one of the great seminal fantasy/sci-fi IPs, it has inspired a lot of what came after it but has always stayed unique and distinctive. Nowhere is this more true than in the video gaming space. Since the release of 'Space Hulk' in 1993, we have seen enormous success with several best-selling games on PC and console, and increasingly mobile.
 
The nature and sheer scale of the “Warhammer” universe is so huge, detailed and inherently created to give flexibility that video games have been an obvious way to explore them as well. We've created video games in genres as diverse as grand strategy world domination titles like 'Total War: “Warhammer” to more up close and personal action fests like 'Vermintide' or 'Space Marine.' The worlds we have created – and continue to build – lend themselves to many different gaming experiences.
 
There will be more AAA game releases over the coming years as part of our strategy to work with the best publishers and developers worldwide and bring audiences the most immersive games from all parts of the “Warhammer” universe. We're also increasing our reach into different demographics and territories with mobile games such as “Warhammer 40,000 Lost Crusade” and “Total War: Warhammer Battles” working with established partners like Sega and new Chinese partners like Netease. We intend many of these games, like “Darktide,” to be built into successful franchises and live outside of just the video gaming category. 
 
 
The Eisenhorn series is in production. Why was this the first property touchpoint for GW's transformation into television? 
 
The Eisenhorn novels are some of the best-selling we've ever done. They're written by the NY Times best-selling author Dan Abnett whom we've been working with since the beginning of our publishing business. As well as being a “Warhammer” aficionado, Dan has worked on multiple other properties for Marvel and other universes and has a great ability to make characters accessible and engaging while staying true to their lore.  
 
The story involves characters who have a unique position in the universe that explains it to an audience unfamiliar with our IP. At heart, they're ensemble-cast crime dramas with lots of action and diverse and complex characters, kind of (elevator pitch warning) 'Breaking Bad meets Sherlock,' but in space with a backdrop of humanity under constant threat. So definitely “Warhammer” 40,000 in aesthetic and style, but also relatable dramas with compelling core characters who have to make difficult and often fatal choices. Working with Frank Spotnitz and his production company on this has been a joy. Frank gets character and sci-fi dramas, as shown by his previous shows ('The Man in the High Castle,' 'The X-Files' Etc.), and has fallen in love with the universe and themes. As our first live-action project, it will be a great way to introduce people to the glorious scope of “Warhammer.” 

Edited March 31, 2021 by WarriorFish
Colour fixed

[Marshal Loss]

Interesting read, thanks for posting. Hopefully among the incoming AAA games is something 40k or 30k themed to wash away the bad taste left by Dawn of War III. Their intention to turn Darktide into a successful franchise isn't a surprise but does bode well for what is already looking like a really exciting game.

[Vesalius]

I hope he misspoke about Darktide releasing next year

[Hungry Nostraman Lizard]

Interesting read, thanks for posting. Hopefully among the incoming AAA games is something 40k or 30k themed to wash away the bad taste left by Dawn of War III. Their intention to turn Darktide into a successful franchise isn't a surprise but does bode well for what is already looking like a really exciting game.

I would kill for a match based lobby shooter something along the realms of Battlefield/Battlefront or Red Orchestra (waves every :45 seconds or so to simulate mass armies), destructible scenery. I'd love for it to be 30k based for sure, but it serves a double bonus for being easier to balance marine-on-marine combat, rather than going down the rabbit tunnel of xenos, and which ones, or how many, etc. 

 

Eternal Crusade tried that, and failed. A less than fantastic studio, with a less than fantastic Lead, being spread across four factions (Marines, Heretic Astartes, Orks, Eldar) was really bad. None of the die-hard fans for a faction felt they got the treatment they deserved, which I can only hypothesize, would have been easier to please if you were working with just the astartes factions. Models being near-identical (or at least sharing animations), with weaponry identical, or functioning similarly enough. 

 

It's the day and age of intense personal customization, imagine being able to mix and match armor marks a la like The Old Space Marine game by THQ of Old.

 

 

[DeadFingers]

 

Interesting read, thanks for posting. Hopefully among the incoming AAA games is something 40k or 30k themed to wash away the bad taste left by Dawn of War III. Their intention to turn Darktide into a successful franchise isn't a surprise but does bode well for what is already looking like a really exciting game.

I would kill for a match based lobby shooter something along the realms of Battlefield/Battlefront or Red Orchestra (waves every :45 seconds or so to simulate mass armies), destructible scenery. I'd love for it to be 30k based for sure, but it serves a double bonus for being easier to balance marine-on-marine combat, rather than going down the rabbit tunnel of xenos, and which ones, or how many, etc. 

I always liked the idea of a Planetside-style game in the 40k universe. I think the gameplay fits the setting quite nicely, with the various factions locked in a perpetual conflict for control over various landmasses with strategic locations scattered about, and both land and air vehicles involved. I believe it'd work rather well with, say, Guard, Orks and Tau, off the top of my head.

[Redrandy93]

Brothers where can i get a WH40K mouse pad?     Better yet an UM one.       I checked WH 40K merchandise on the GW site and Amazon but no mouse pad in either one.   I may have to see if there are sites that make them from a picture you supply.    

If this is in the wrong place please move it to correct forum folder.

 

Thanks

[USNCenturion]

White text on white background, oof. Lol. Thanks for posting anyways frater!

[Lord Nord in Gravis Armour]

I hope he misspoke about Darktide releasing next year I need it sooner.

 

 

If you follow the link, that part of the article has been corrected to read "this year."

[Claws and Effect]

I'm still holding out hope for a true 40k MMO, but that is likely a long way off,if it is even on the radar at all.

[MegaVolt87]

 

Interesting read, thanks for posting. Hopefully among the incoming AAA games is something 40k or 30k themed to wash away the bad taste left by Dawn of War III. Their intention to turn Darktide into a successful franchise isn't a surprise but does bode well for what is already looking like a really exciting game.

I would kill for a match based lobby shooter something along the realms of Battlefield/Battlefront or Red Orchestra (waves every :45 seconds or so to simulate mass armies), destructible scenery. I'd love for it to be 30k based for sure, but it serves a double bonus for being easier to balance marine-on-marine combat, rather than going down the rabbit tunnel of xenos, and which ones, or how many, etc. 

 

Eternal Crusade tried that, and failed. A less than fantastic studio, with a less than fantastic Lead, being spread across four factions (Marines, Heretic Astartes, Orks, Eldar) was really bad. None of the die-hard fans for a faction felt they got the treatment they deserved, which I can only hypothesize, would have been easier to please if you were working with just the astartes factions. Models being near-identical (or at least sharing animations), with weaponry identical, or functioning similarly enough. 

 

It's the day and age of intense personal customization, imagine being able to mix and match armor marks a la like The Old Space Marine game by THQ of Old.

 

Here is how you add in xenos to a 30k shooter with PvP and PvE- horde modes. Imagine the Ullanor map, fighting off waves of orks, someone gets the right score/ multiplier and spawns in as HORUS or the EMPEROR for a few rounds/ waves. I would pre-order such a game myself.