Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 5th Edition Is Coming in 2026

2026 will the 40th anniversary of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the classic British fantasy TTRPG launched in 1986 by Games Workshop. It's also the year of a brand new edition of the game, with WFRP 5E hitting shelves, courtesy of Cubicle 7.

Cubicle 7's CEO Dominic McDowall, in an interview with Wargamer, indicated that the new edition will be backwards compatible with 4th edition, retaining the classic d100 system, and set in a similar time period. There will be a conversion document of sorts, but most older material will be usable with ease.

McDowall said that the goal is to 'standardize' things more, and remove subsystems which don't add enough player satisfaction in relation to their complexity. Existing 4th Edition books will not be re-released, and a new 'mega campaign' is being worked on.

WFRP has been published by various publishers over the decades--Games Workshop, Hogshead Publishing, Green Ronin/Black Industries, Fantasy Flight Games, and--since 2018--Cubicle 7. The game is set in a 'grimdark' fantasy setting called the 'Old World', with various regions very loosely based on countries in the Middle Ages. One of the game's predominant themes is the battle against Chaos, as represented by beastmen, mutated ratmen (Skaven), and dark cults.

 

[overgeeked]

I absolutely love the setting. So far 2E is my favorite edition of WFRP. 4E is just way too crunchy for my tastes. Here's to hoping they've dialed that way back in the revision. If not, there's always The Old World RPG.

 

[BigZebra]

This is excellent news. The current edition has important alternate rules spread over several books. It's all a little rough on the edges. It really needs a "remastered" edition. So I'm happy for this. Could be my entry point as well.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I absolutely love the setting. So far 2E is my favorite edition of WFRP. 4E is just way too crunchy for my tastes. Here's to hoping they've dialed that way back in the revision. If not, there's always The Old World RPG.

Mine too from a rules POV. I have most of the books physical and PDF format. If I ever get back to GM’ing I’d really enjoy running it.

 

[ngenius]

The full interview with Dominic McDowaall posted on the official Cubicle7 Games website below...

https://cubicle7games.com/en_GB/blog/warhammer-fantasy-roleplay-fifth-edition-in-house-interview

 

[Cergorach]

I'm not excited for this, having bought all the FVTT WFRP4e modules...

 

[ngenius]

I'm not excited for this, having bought all the FVTT WFRP4e modules...

WFRP 5e will be compatible, so you can still run WFRP 4e modules for most of your official and homebrew campaigns, and only switch to the 5e VTT when it eventually gets released and then run the Dark Elf campaign.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It is not just another, year, 2026 will be the 40th Anniversary. So ideally, probably a 40th Anniversary of the 1st Edition book alongside this new 5th Edition one.

I would be interested in a reissue of 1e. Don't have a physical copy of that game.

 

[Micah Sweet]

calling it 40th anniversary is no different than calling it 5th edition, see D&D

I certainly welcome a consolidation of rule-sprawl from various supplements into a new core book. I hate it when I have a core book and then five or so supplements with additional rules and alternative rules. One core book and one rules supplement is plenty, anything more and I’d rather have you trim and consolidate it down again.

Not me. Bring on more content! I had a ton of fun with WHFRPG 1e and 2e. Had a bunch of books for 2e in particular back in the day.

 

[Mercador]

I'm happy that it will be backwards compatible

 

[Skywalker]

I really don't know why people put out new "editions" if they aren't going to make significant changes. I mean, for sure put out a 40th Anniversary Core Rulebook, but why "5th Edition" it?

My guess is that there will be significant changes. Simple platitudes of backwards compatibility intended to calm existing customers are always made at this point but rarely prove to be all that accurate.