Warlord Games has confirmed that pre-orders for The Rift War – Volume One: Festung Europa open January 30, bringing necromantic horror to the alternate-history WW2 game Konflikt ’47. The reveal centers on shambling undead troops joining Axis forces—a thematic expansion that pushes the game’s weird-war aesthetic further into pulp horror territory.
TL;DR
Warlord Games previews Festung Europa, the first volume in a new Rift War campaign series for Konflikt ’47. The book introduces undead infantry models for Axis players and includes narrative missions. Pre-orders begin January 30 with a limited art print by Davide Manna. Pricing has not been announced.
What’s Actually Confirmed
The announcement includes two preview images: shambling undead models described as “hordes coming to join the Axis,” and official artwork depicting armored troops against a gothic European backdrop. Warlord confirmed a pre-order bonus art print and mentioned an exclusive miniature releasing alongside the book later this week.
Festung Europa appears positioned as the first in a multi-volume campaign arc. While Konflikt ’47 already features rift-tech weaponry and mechanized walkers, these undead troops mark the first overtly supernatural infantry for the system. No release date beyond “pre-order starting January 30” has been shared, and no pricing information is public yet.
The timing suggests Warlord is expanding Konflikt ’47’s narrative scope after several years focused primarily on faction updates and vehicle releases. For players tracking the game’s development, this represents a tonal shift—less retrofuturistic diesel-tech, more B-movie occult menace.
What This Means at Skirmish Scale
Undead infantry changes force composition for players who favor small, elite squad games like Gangfight or other fast-play WW2 frameworks. Shambling units typically trade quality for quantity, which could make Festung Europa content particularly relevant for narrative scenarios where overwhelming enemy numbers drive tension.
Competitive players may find value if the undead units offer expendable screening elements or scenario-specific advantages. Painters and converters get obvious appeal from gothic horror aesthetics—gas-masked zombies blend naturally with existing Weird War miniature lines from multiple manufacturers.
The campaign book format suggests scenario content that could be adapted beyond Konflikt ’47’s native rules. Players already using the models in alternative systems will likely find mission structures and faction background portable enough for cross-compatible play. Whether that’s worth waiting for official details depends on how much mechanical crunch versus narrative flavor Warlord includes.