The popularity of Warhammer is bigger than ever with major game releases like Space Marine 2 and the upcoming Dawn of War 4 and massively increased sales of miniatures.
In recent years, the Warhammer company has published fully-translated versions of the universe’s through Ukrainian company Molfar Comics following years of fans only having access to Russian and English versions of new books.
Games Workshop has since stopped its partnership with Molfar Comics, although the company still sells miniatures in the region and plans to continue to do so. However, for now, the company isn’t releasing any Ukrainian-translated novels following the surprising end of Molfar Comics’ contract.
“Recently we chose not to renew our contract with a Ukrainian publisher, who had previously been responsible for localising Black Library novels,” Games Workshop told fans on social media.
“We won’t discuss why. That wouldn’t be right. What we will say is we thought long and hard about it, and it was done for good reason.”
In response to Games Workshop’s decision, Molfar Comics co-owner Oleksandr Nevskiy told The Telegraph that the release of Ukrainian-translated Warhammer novels was “vital for the morale” of Ukrainian soldiers repelling the ongoing Russian invasion of their country.
“These works are vital for the morale of our people, especially our soldiers – many of whom are our readers,” Nevskiy told the outlet. “We have repeatedly received photos of soldiers reading Warhammer books in trenches or in hospital beds.”
“Warhammer media in Ukraine had long ties with Russia: the only way for the community back then was to consume lore in Russian or English”
Anonymous Ukrainian sergeant, callsign “Shekel”
A Ukranian military sergeant going by the alias “Shekel” told the outlet that troop morale was indeed improved with the arrival of Ukranian-translated novels in the series following years of having to read books in English, or the language of their invaders, calling this new reversion “frustrating” for everyone.
“Every Warhammer fan in Ukraine, both military and civilian, was really happy when the first Warhammer books were published in Ukrainian,” the sergeant explained.
“Unfortunately, Warhammer media in Ukraine had long ties with Russia: the only way for the community back then was to consume lore in Russian or English. In most cases, of course, it was Russian pirate translations.”
Prior to the release of official Ukrainian novels, Games Workshop was known as “Wa**er’s Workshop” in the region, a nickname that the sergeant says is “well earned” following the decision to end publishing via Molfar Comics.
Games Workshop has not explained exactly why the contract with Molfar Comics has ended, but the company is still committed to bringing other Warhammer projects to the region.
Others have used this as an opportunity to criticise the Warhammer company for alleged pro-Russia agendas. In 2022, Games Workshop suspended the sale of all products to Russia, but the company has been criticised for its partnership with game developer Owlcat Games, an international studio that was founded in Moscow with a large number of Russian workers. Owlcat worked on Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, and is currently developing a Dark Heresy video game.
