Warhammer 40K publisher will stop selling its products into Russia

Warhammer 40,000 won and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Publisher Games Workshop announced Wednesday that it will suspend all sales of Warhammer products into Russia. The announcement comes nearly three weeks after that country’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

“We are deeply saddened by the terrible events taking place in Ukraine,” the British company wrote in a statement The official website of the community. “Our sincere thoughts go to all those affected by Russia’s actions. For this reason, Games Workshop is suspending all sales of Warhammer products into Russia. We did not take this decision lightly. We know that there are many Russians who have a taste that does not accept war. However, we have to stand with that suffering.”

Games Workshop’s core business is miniature wargaming, supported by the sale of plastic model sets and supplementary rule material. Its lines include 40 thousand and AoS mentioned above, but also Middle-earth Strategy Game (based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit), Necromunda, Adeptus Titanicus, and many other related sub-franchises. The company has enjoyed an incredible streak of success since 2019, with many players returning to the hobby or trying it for the first time while stuck at home during the global pandemic.

Of the company Annual Report 2021 note that it has doubled in both the Russian and Chinese markets, and added translation staff in the first half of 2022. It is unclear how those positions will be affected by the move. No mention has been made of sales in Belarus, which has supported Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. When Polygon contacted Gaming Workshop for additional comment, we were redirected back to the statement posted on the website.

Many game companies around the world have also made similar decisions when leaving the Russian and Belarussian markets, among them Sony, Microsoft and Electronic Arts.