Games Workshop Timeline

**The Games Workshop Timeline** is a chronological list of major events and releases in the history of the British tabletop gaming company, Games Workshop.

## Early years (1975-1982)

### 1975

Main article: 1975
* Three friends decided to share their hobby with the world, starting up a UK-based mail-order business importing popular fantasy roleplaying and board games. They call their company “Games Workshop” (which only narrowly beat the alternative: “Games Garage”).
* Launch of Games Workshop first magazine Owl & Weasel.
* The first Games Day took place.

### 1977

Main article: 1977
* White Dwarf is launched, it quickly replaced its predecessor Owl and Weasel as the UK’s leading magazine for tabletop and roleplaying hobbyists.

### 1978

Main article: 1978
* First shop opens on 1 Dalling Road, Hammersmith in London, the first store opened in a chain that would later spread across the world.

### 1979

Main article: 1979
* The original Citadel miniatures. Archetypal characters, as yet without a game of their own, were designed to be used in roleplaying systems or simply collected on their own.

## Oldhammer era (1983-1992)

### 1983

Main article: 1983
* Warhammer: 1st Edition. The principles of historical wargaming combined with mythic fantasy – and a new hobby was born.

### 1985

Main article: 1985
* Launch of The Citadel Journal.

### 1986

Main article: 1986
* Citadel produces a range of sci-fi miniatures, amongst them, the armoured form of a crusading galactic hero – the Space Marine.

### 1987

Main article: 1987
* Based on the popularity of the Space Marine, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader launched, and soon became the world’s most popular wargame.
* Launch of Firepower magazine.

### 1988

Main article: 1988
* Launch of the free Troll Magazine.
* Creation of Black Library.

### 1991

Main article: 1991
* Games Workshop launches the Specialist Games division.

### 1992

Main article: 1992
* Games Workshop acquired Citadel Miniatures Ltd.

## Middlehammer era (1993-2000)

### 1995

Main article: 1995
* Creation of the Games Workshop website.

### 1997

Main article: 1997
* Black Library was created to produce fiction set in the rich worlds of Warhammer, with many series becoming bestsellers in their own right.
* Launch of Necromunda Magazine.
* Creation of the Warhammer, Warhammer Merchandise, Necromunda, Blood Bowl and Warhammer Stores websites.

### 1998

Main article: 1998
* First Warhammer Games Day.
* Creation of the Forge World and Warhammer 40,000 websites.

### 1999

Main article: 1999
* Launch of the Harbringer, Town Cryers and the Battlefleet Gothic magazines
* The Warhammer World website is launched.

### 2000

Main article: 2000
* Launch of Warmaster Magazine.

## Newhammer era (2001-present)

### 2001

Main article: 2001
* Thousands of people were introduced to Games Workshop thanks to a new range of Citadel miniatures based on The Lord of the Rings™ film trilogy.

### 2002

Main article: 2002
* Specialist Games Range is created.

### 2004

Main article: 2004
* Dawn of War is released. Developer Relic was able to bring the universe of Warhammer 40,000 to life in a bestselling RTS computer game, starting a critically acclaimed series that still runs to this day.
* Launch of the Fanatic magazine.

### 2008

Main article: 2008
* Fantasy Flight Games began its partnership with Games Workshop.

### 2009

Main article: 2009
* The Warhammer Commemorative Series was first launched to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Games Workshop. The first model in the series was a special edition Space Marine Captain, which was limited to 1,000 copies.
* The first Scrap Demon took place.

### 2010

Main article: 2010
* The first Armies on Parade took place.

### 2011

Main article: 2011
* The Hobbit Strategy Battle Game is released.
* Release of Citadel Finecast miniatures range.

### 2012

Main article: 2012
* The Citadel Paint System’s easy 4-step process made great painting results accessible to every hobbyist.

### 2013

Main article: 2013
* Release of Warhammer The Horus Heresy.
* Launch of the Warhammer: Visions magazine.

### 2015

Main article: 2015
* Warhammer Age of Sigmar is released, marking a significant shift in the Warhammer Fantasy Battles setting.
* Creation of the Warhammer Art, Warhammer Digital and Combat Cards websites.

### 2016

Main article: 2016
* October 28 - Games Workshop launches the Warhammer Community and Warhammer World websites.
* Launch of Spike! Magazine.
* The first Middle-earth Team Championships took place.
* Launch of the Miniature of the Year on Warhammer Community.

### 2017

Main article: 2017
* Warhammer 40,000 (8th Edition) is released.
* The first Blitzmania tournament took place.
* Creation of the Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Underworlds websites.

### 2018

Main article: 2018
* Games Workshop introduces the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Champions Trading Card Game.
* The first Black Library Celebration took place on Warhammer Community.
* Launch of the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game.

### 2019

Main article: 2019
* Games Workshop releases the Warcry skirmish game.
* March 22 - Games Workshop launches the Citadel Colour website.
* Launch of Exterminatus magazine.
* The first Warhammer Fest took place.
* The first Everchosen took place.
* Creation of he Citadel Colour, Warhammer Alliance and Aeronautica Imperialis websites.

### 2020

Main article: 2020
* Warhammer 40,000 (9th Edition) is released.
* The first Warhammer Community Painting Competition took place.
* Creation of Warhammer TV.

### 2021

Main article: 2021
* Games Workshop introduces the Warhammer Underworlds: Direchasm expansion.
* August 25 - Launch of the Warhammer+ streaming service.
* Launch of the free Festive Guide magazine.
* The first Warhammer 40,000: Arks of Omen tournament took place.
* Launch of Warhammer Vault, The Horus Heresy and Miniature of the Month

### 2022

Main article: 2022
* October 7 - The Warhammer-Magic crossover marked a significant milestone in tabletop gaming as two major franchises collaborated for the first time.
* The first Black Library Book of the Year took place on Warhammer Community.

### 2023

Main article: 2023
* April - Release of Warhammer 40,000 (10th Edition).

## See also

* Games Workshop
* List of Games Workshop games
* Games Workshop Statistics