[Update #2]: Necromunda: Underhive Wars has now arrived for PC and consoles, though not without a fair few bugs.

[Update]: Warhammer 40k themed tactical RPG Necromunda: Underhive Wars is launching on September 8, 2020!

Rogue Factor, developers you might recognize from their work on the rather solid Mordheim: City of the Damned, have announced their next foray into the Warhammer universe. However, instead of going with Warhammer Fantasy, this time around they'll be exploring the grim darkness of the far future with the Warhammer 40,000 themed Necromunda: Underhive Wars.

Much like Mordheim, the gameplay in Necromunda will be a turn-based affair with a heavy focus on customization. In other words, you will be able to customize almost every aspect of your gang members, everything from their appearance to their loadout. As your characters grow in power they will be able to unlock even more skills and weapons, so it really comes down to choosing whatever playstyle you enjoy, and then trying to form a team around that idea. A fairly simple concept, but one that has been proven to work many times before.

As of right now only two of Necromunda's most iconic gangs have been revealed: the all-female drug lords the Eschers, as well as the Goaliths - a group that values raw strength and brutality above all else. More gangs will be revealed in the coming months, but don't expect to see any good guys as the bowels of the Imperial Hive Primus are rife with poverty, crime and a serious case of corruption. It is a world where only the strong and the insane may survive, and that is something that is clearly reflected upon the gangs themselves.

Fashion sense is apparently the first thing that disappears during a crisis

The details are still shrouded in mystery, but what I can tell you is that the turn-based combat with have a great degree of verticality to it. You can use this to push for a high-ground advantage, set traps for unwitting victims, or just lock your foes into melee combat by striking from angles they simply didn't expect. Do be careful, however, as death and injuries are permanent! So while sending your fully geared melee squad straight into the fray might win you the battle, it could also be a potentially devastating mistake if you suffer too many casualties in the process. It's a bit brutal, but it's also quite an interesting mechanic to base the gameplay around.

If you're looking for an even greater challenge, Necromunda's Conquest Mode will offer an endless campaign featuring various 4X elements. You will have to fight and capture key territory, prove your strength and influence to the other gangs, defend against intrusion and sabotage, and even challenge your fellow players to 'honorable' duels. I'm not exactly sure how all of this will work, but a highly randomized bonus campaign is always a good thing in my book.

Imperial factories might look ridiculous, but they are an asset well worth loosing troops for

Necromunda: Underhive Wars will be launching on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, though no release date has been given just yet. You can follow it's progress moving forward by heading over to the official website.

And finally, here's the recently posted teaser trailer. It doesn't feature any gameplay, but it'll give you a pretty darn good idea of the kind of atmosphere Necromunda is going for. Enjoy!