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Wasn't there supposed to be an app for 40K just like how Age of Sigmar got one? I thought I read it would come out months after 8th edition was released. Is this still planned to happen or has GW given up on it? So anyone know about this?

They've gone cold with any news on it. I'm guessing they hit a development issue and have put it on hold.

My theory is that they can't work out how to release an official app without removing the need to buy any of the codexes - I could be wrong.

Interesting point about the corporate sales need for codices. I wouldn’t put it past them.

 NurglesR0T wrote:
They've gone cold with any news on it. I'm guessing they hit a development issue and have put it on hold.

My theory is that they can't work out how to release an official app without removing the need to buy any of the codexes - I could be wrong.

Yeah pretty sure its this. i mean how many of you guys would never buy a codex again if you could just get the info on an app.

99% sure if they are going to do anything they are going make each codex into purchasable parts that you can build with. rather than the 1-2$ a month thing with AOS

There's also possibly a consumer space issue - most people these days are using 'Battlescribe', so it's hard to justify spending resources on something that competes with an already established product.

It's clear they want a different business model for 40k than for AOS. AOS has freely available datasheets, 40k does not (and they aggressively pursue people who do it, while never doing the same for AOS). AOS has ScrollBuilder which GW lauded the guy who made it and took it in house; 40k had an army builder sent a C&D at the start of 8th edition over something as trivial as using images (which they could have just asked to not use the images), without even so much as offering to accept a good idea it was straight to siccing the lawyers on the guy. AOS seems to have GW's encouragement to have fan-made things; they got the guy who made Hinterlands skirmish fan-edit of AOS and I think he is a GW dev now, but you have never ever seen such a thing done for 40k like with Heralds of Ruin for example which is a way better Kill Team than GW themselves could put out. AOS encourages fan stuff like Tyler Mengel's things, you will never see that done for 40k.

I think they are afraid if they have an app, people won't buy the codexes, while they didn't care about AOS because it was largely untested so "free rules and warscrolls" were seen as a necessary evil whilst 40k is the cash cow and they expect people to buy everything for it.

Free warscrolls etc were the compromise they had to make to ease the transition of players from WFB to AOS. They not only squatted the game system, but also invalidated a lot of existing models - Tomb Kings and Bretonnia players would know what I'm talking about.

40k is following a slightly modified model where the core rules are free - albeit a "stripped down" version - with model rules included in the newer boxes. Sometimes even then just the statline which is hardly useful.

A way around it would be to introduce a subscription model to the app. You get the core of the app for free which gives you the units in a list with power level only etc, but in order to get access to the full datasheet like Battlescribe you would need to subscribe to that army.

Perhaps even including a subscription key in each codex "buy the codex and get a code for the app" - how this would apply retroactively to those who already bought codexes would be a logistically nightmare. (perhaps bring your copy of a codex into a GW as proof and they give you a code maybe)

I don't think there was ever talk about an app with actual rules, it was supposed to be an army building app. And considering how the point costs are now scattered in several places, such app is sorely needed.

They may be waiting until all of the rules are dialed in? who knows

Every physical codex should be coming with a code to download a digital codex anyway and that digital codex should be updated regularly with point changes and faqs.

It's nonsense that all this errata and gak can't be kept organized for the player. A single app that keeps track of your digital codes should be easy enough.

 Desubot wrote:

 NurglesR0T wrote:
They've gone cold with any news on it. I'm guessing they hit a development issue and have put it on hold.

My theory is that they can't work out how to release an official app without removing the need to buy any of the codexes - I could be wrong.

Yeah pretty sure its this. i mean how many of you guys would never buy a codex again if you could just get the info on an app.

99% sure if they are going to do anything they are going make each codex into purchasable parts that you can build with. rather than the 1-2$ a month thing with AOS

Battlescribe is a thing and yet people buy codizes. Personally the fluff part in a codex might be more important than the rules, as the rules change constantly but the fluff is fun to read again every now and then.
Books are also much easier/ faster to flip through and find something than with an app on a phone. With a tablet/PC nearby it might be different.

Battlescribe also has bunch of errors so relying on that isn't all that likely to get a pass. Official GW app might have enough muscle behind to be accepted say in tournaments as official rules rather than codex.

 Lance845 wrote:
Every physical codex should be coming with a code to download a digital codex

Good plan! Even if not a full copy of the digital codex, at least a digital essentials book, like the old Gamers Editions.

 Lance845 wrote:
that digital codex should be updated regularly with point changes and faqs.

Good job that already happens then, always makes me wonder what the use of physical books is any more.

 Eonfuzz wrote:
There's also possibly a consumer space issue - most people these days are using 'Battlescribe', so it's hard to justify spending resources on something that competes with an already established product.

An already established product that GW is not affiliated with.

The moment GW releases an official version, Battlescribe will either cease to exist (see iBodger for when War Room came out. PP used the carrot there though, I'd be surprised if GW were as lenient) or just carry on under the radar as it also produces files for games other than 40k, despite there being other official versions out there such as the aforementioned War Room and Through the Breach.

 Grimtuff wrote:

 Eonfuzz wrote:
There's also possibly a consumer space issue - most people these days are using 'Battlescribe', so it's hard to justify spending resources on something that competes with an already established product.

An already established product that GW is not affiliated with.

The moment GW releases an official version, Battlescribe will either cease to exist (see iBodger for when War Room came out. PP used the carrot there though, I'd be surprised if GW were as lenient) or just carry on under the radar as it also produces files for games other than 40k, despite there being other official versions out there such as the aforementioned War Room and Through the Breach.

Dunno. GW app won't be codex replacement for sure so if you use that you 100% need codex. At most it will contain points so you can create list but not have rules. Battlescribe allows people at least to a degree skip buying book so will always have market. Especially for people with more games. War room for example costs right?

They could easily do the same model as AoS, that is data sheets freely available but strategems, artifacts, psychic powers etc only available in Codices. I don't think it would eat into codex sales that way.

 Mymearan wrote:
They could easily do the same model as AoS, that is data sheets freely available but strategems, artifacts, psychic powers etc only available in Codices. I don't think it would eat into codex sales that way.

If that was their intention don't you think they would have already done it? While possible I wouldn't count on that. Thus I don't expect rules etc be in the app.

 Mymearan wrote:
They could easily do the same model as AoS, that is data sheets freely available but strategems, artifacts, psychic powers etc only available in Codices. I don't think it would eat into codex sales that way.

That's, supposedly, what the app was going to be. However they hinted/implied it wasn't going to happen until all of the codices were released.

I would assume that we won't see it until all the codexes have been released.

Not sure what the delay is, it might just be that it requires a more complex app than AOS (more options more granular points)

But the concern about people not buying codices is a non-issue. All they need to do is not include rules, stats etc. Just slots, points, power level. People would still need to purchase books for all the actual rules.

Honestly I think rules themselves need to be on a subscription. Have the app charge a small amount per month and give you access to the books while you pay for it.

Desubot wrote:

 NurglesR0T wrote:
They've gone cold with any news on it. I'm guessing they hit a development issue and have put it on hold.

My theory is that they can't work out how to release an official app without removing the need to buy any of the codexes - I could be wrong.

Yeah pretty sure its this. i mean how many of you guys would never buy a codex again if you could just get the info on an app.

99% sure if they are going to do anything they are going make each codex into purchasable parts that you can build with. rather than the 1-2$ a month thing with AOS

That is what I thought at first as well. Thing is I still buy the books for Age of Sigmar and buy the cards if my army has them as well. I would do the same for 40K as well. I guess I am part of the 1% eh?

Davor wrote:

Desubot wrote:

 NurglesR0T wrote:
They've gone cold with any news on it. I'm guessing they hit a development issue and have put it on hold.

My theory is that they can't work out how to release an official app without removing the need to buy any of the codexes - I could be wrong.

Yeah pretty sure its this. i mean how many of you guys would never buy a codex again if you could just get the info on an app.

99% sure if they are going to do anything they are going make each codex into purchasable parts that you can build with. rather than the 1-2$ a month thing with AOS

That is what I thought at first as well. Thing is I still buy the books for Age of Sigmar and buy the cards if my army has them as well. I would do the same for 40K as well. I guess I am part of the 1% eh?

Id buy the cards and the book if they ever bothered printing a skaven one that wasn't fethin pestilence.