If you have been waiting to see if Fatshark has managed to iron out the creases in their grimdark co-op shooter, this weekend offers a risk-free opportunity to find out.
As part of the studio’s “10 Years of Tide” celebrations, marking a decade since the Skaven first swarmed our screens in Vermintide, Fatshark has announced that Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is free to play on Steam right now. The trial period runs through until the 8th of December.
This promotional push coincides with the game’s third anniversary. Since its launch in 2022, which was marred by technical performance issues and a crafting system that frustrated early adopters, the developers have released a steady stream of updates. The most recent content drop arrived earlier this week, introducing a new map and the “Hive Scum” archetype, aiming to lower the barrier to entry for fresh rejects entering the meat grinder.
For those who already own the game, or those jumping in for the free weekend, the immediate draw is the anniversary event, “The Day of Atonement,” which runs until December 22nd.
The narrative hook for the event leans heavily into the misery of the setting. News from the lower hab zones of Tertium indicates that rations distributed to the populace were tainted, spreading sickness through the hive city. In response, players must seek forgiveness from Saint Messelina Gloriana.
Sister Hestia Prine, speaking via the in-game vox channels, set the scene:
“Disturbing news has reached us from the poorer hab zones in Tertium. The recovered rations that were recently distributed to the unfortunate souls who reside in these districts appear to have been tainted. A great sickness has spread through these areas.
My masters in the Ecclesiarchy have called for a Day of Atonement. You must beg our dear Saint Messelina Gloriana for her forgiveness and protection for our beloved Tertium.
Pray at her Blessed Altars and scour the hive for any Holy Relics you can find. Only through devotion can we hope to save our city.”
Mechanically, this involves playing missions with the “Atonement” condition active. Players must interact with shrines and locate Holy Relics while fighting off waves of enemies that spawn upon activation.
Notably, Fatshark is offering premium currency as a completion reward. Players who grind through the event tiers can unlock 500 Aquilas, the currency usually reserved for real-money transactions, alongside the standard Plasteel, Diamantine, and Ordo Dockets.
For those who enjoy the trial and decide to stay on board the Mourningstar, retailers like CDKeys and Fanatical often stock Steam keys for Darktide at competitive rates.
