It’s not often that we see a PC-focused game that really pushes the platform hard, but that’s exactly what Warhammer 40K: Darktide does – and its visual quality is astonishing. It’s particularly impressive given that developer Fatshark isn’t using a mainstream engine like Unreal or Unity. So what makes this first-person co-op title so visually commanding, how well does it run and what are the best optimised settings for mid-range and high-end hardware?
Let’s start with the basics – the idea here is that you choose a character from one of four classes from the Warhammer 40K universe, embark on missions with up to three other players, complete objectives in dark dystopian envrionments and bring home gear and ability upgrades for your character. The gameplay is a mix of Chivalry, Left 4 Dead and Diablo – and of course, builds on Fatshark’s previous work on the Warhammer Vermintide series. Set to a phenomenal soundtrack from Jespyr Kyd, the game requires teamwork and some level of tactics as you switch between melee, ranged weapons and abilities to survive a grimdark onslaught.
Driving the visuals is Fatshark’s own branch of the Autodesk Stringray engine, as far as I can tell, and it uses a cornucopia of modern rendering techniques to create one of the most authentic-looking renditions of Warhammer 40K that I have seen to date.
