Warhammer.com Closed Amid Scalper Rush for Horus Heresy

Games Workshop was compelled to take its official website, Warhammer.com, offline after scalpers disrupted the pre-order launch for the special edition of "Siege of Terra: End of Ruin."

The release of this highly anticipated anthology, set in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy—a pivotal civil war among the Space Marines that occurred 10,000 years before the current Warhammer 40,000 timeline—drew significant attention. This conflict is central to the grimdark foundation of the 40K universe, detailing the events that led to the Emperor's entombment on the Golden Throne.

While "Siege of Terra: End of Ruin" is a major release for lore enthusiasts, the special edition is particularly sought after. It boasts a leather-effect cover adorned with gold foil, gilded page edges, and a metal emblem depicting a ruined Imperial eagle.

Games Workshop had announced that the special edition would be available "strictly while stocks last," with sales beginning at 10 AM UK time on June 10. The company also informed fans that a queue system would be implemented to ensure a fair ordering process.

However, the queue system malfunctioned, leaving many eager fans unable to complete their pre-orders. As complaints surged across social media platforms, Discord servers, and subreddits, Warhammer.com unexpectedly went offline, leaving customers confused and frustrated.

And so, it begins
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Anger mounted among those who had set aside time for the launch, only to be left empty-handed. Eventually, Games Workshop released a statement—a rare step for the company—explaining that it had taken the site offline after detecting scalpers using bots to circumvent its security measures.

“Scalpers attempted to use bots to bypass our normal safeguards,” Games Workshop stated. “Our vigilant technical team identified this activity in real-time, prompting us to take Warhammer.com offline.”

As a result, the special edition of "Siege of Terra: End of Ruin" is temporarily unavailable on Warhammer.com. A placeholder page now invites visitors to submit their email addresses for updates. Games Workshop assured fans that the special edition will be released, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring that "genuine fans have the opportunity to purchase it."

“We are currently removing all fraudulent orders,” the company added. “This is our top priority. We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the situation.”

The statement has helped alleviate some of the frustration among fans who expected a smoother rollout. While some view Games Workshop's intervention as a "small victory" against scalpers, others remain skeptical about the company's ability to effectively combat automated purchasing tools. Suggestions from the community include implementing a raffle system for high-demand products or even requiring potential buyers to pass a lore-based quiz to verify their familiarity with the Horus Heresy.

In reality, Games Workshop has faced pre-order challenges for years, with special edition book launches frequently targeted by scalpers who resell the items at exorbitant prices. The gaming community is watching closely to see how the company manages the relaunch of pre-orders for "Siege of Terra: End of Ruin."

It is worth noting that Games Workshop is a substantial enterprise. The Nottingham-based company is performing so well that it recently distributed £20 million (approximately $27 million) in bonuses to its employees.

While Games Workshop's primary business revolves around miniatures for tabletop wargames like Warhammer 40,000, it is increasingly focused on intellectual property. Recent successes include the video game "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2" and animations such as Amazon's Warhammer 40,000 Secret Level. The company has also finalized an agreement with Amazon to develop a Warhammer 40,000 cinematic universe starring Henry Cavill, which will include films and television series. Additionally, "Space Marine 3" is currently in development.