Games Workshop Shuts Warhammer.com Amid Scalper Rush

Games Workshop had to temporarily shut down its official website, Warhammer.com, due to scalpers overwhelming the system during the highly anticipated pre-order launch for the limited-edition book Siege of Terra: End and Death.

The Warhammer publisher opened pre-orders for this exclusive anthology, which continues the climactic Siege of Terra narrative following the galaxy-shaking Horus Heresy. For newcomers, the Horus Heresy marks the pivotal civil war among the Space Marines, occurring millennia before the current Warhammer 40,000 timeline. This foundational event shaped the franchise's grimdark universe, including the fate of the Emperor on the Golden Throne.

While the book itself is a major release for lore enthusiasts, the deluxe edition offers even more appeal with its premium features: a faux-leather cover with gold foil detailing, gilded page edges, and a decorative metal insignia of a shattered Imperial eagle.

Initially, Games Workshop announced the collector's edition would have strictly limited availability, with sales commencing at 10 AM BST on June 10. The company also promised a queue system to maintain fair access for genuine fans.

However, technical issues emerged as the queue system failed under overwhelming demand, leaving many unable to complete purchases. As frustrations mounted across Warhammer communities on social media and forums, the website unexpectedly went offline without explanation.

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Following growing backlash from disappointed collectors, Games Workshop took the unusual step of publicly addressing the situation. The company revealed it had intentionally taken the website offline after detecting scalpers using automated bots to bypass purchase restrictions.

"We identified bot activity attempting to circumvent our security measures," Games Workshop stated. "Our technical team intervened in real-time by temporarily suspending the website to protect legitimate customer access."

Currently, the special edition remains unavailable, replaced by a notification sign-up page. Games Workshop confirmed the product will return to sale, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring it reaches actual fans rather than resellers.

"We're systematically removing fraudulent orders," the company added. "Resolving this remains our top priority, and we appreciate our community's patience during this process."

This transparency has somewhat alleviated fan frustrations, with some praising the company's quick response as a partial victory against scalpers. However, skepticism remains regarding long-term solutions, with suggestions ranging from lottery systems to Horus Heresy knowledge tests verifying buyer authenticity.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges with premium product launches, as scalpers continue targeting limited-edition Warhammer releases for resale at inflated prices. The community now watches closely to see how Games Workshop will handle the eventual relaunch.

It's worth noting that Games Workshop remains a commercial powerhouse, recently distributing £20 million (approximately $27 million) in staff bonuses due to continued financial success.

While best known for its tabletop miniature wargames like Warhammer 40,000, the company has expanded into multimedia ventures. Recent successes include the popular Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 video game and Amazon's animated series. The recently finalized deal with Henry Cavill for a Warhammer 40,000 cinematic universe signals further expansion into film and television, alongside ongoing development of Space Marine 3.