Warhammer.com Crashes as Scalpers Swarm Horus Heresy Book Launch

Games Workshop had to take its official website, Warhammer.com, offline following scalper-induced chaos during pre-orders for the Siege of Terra: End of Ruin limited edition book.

The publisher launched pre-orders for this highly anticipated special edition anthology featuring stories from the aftermath of the Horus Heresy – the galaxy-shattering civil war among Space Marines that forms the grimdark backstory of Warhammer 40,000's universe.

The End of Ruin collector's edition features premium elements including:

• A leather-style cover with gold foil detailing
• Gilded page edges
• A sculpted metal emblem of a shattered Imperial eagle

Despite implementing a queue system advertised to "ensure fair distribution" for the June 10 launch, technical issues prevented genuine fans from securing orders. Following widespread complaints across Warhammer communities, Games Workshop took the unprecedented step of shutting down Warhammer.com entirely.

"Scalpers attempted to use bots to bypass our normal safeguards," explained Games Workshop. "Our eagle-eyed Tech Priests caught this happening in real-time, so we pulled Warhammer.com offline."

The publisher confirmed:

• All fraudulent bot orders are being removed
• The collector's edition will relaunch with enhanced anti-scalper measures
• Standard editions remain available

While some fans praised Games Workshop's decisive action against scalpers, others remain skeptical about long-term anti-bot solutions. Suggested improvements include:

• Implementing a raffle system
• Adding Warhammer knowledge tests
• Requiring purchase histories

This incident highlights ongoing challenges with limited edition releases in the tabletop gaming industry. Fans eagerly await Games Workshop's revised ordering system for what promises to be one of the most sought-after Warhammer publications this year.

Despite these issues, Games Workshop's business continues to thrive - evidenced by their recent £20 million employee bonus payout. Beyond miniatures, the company's expanded multimedia presence includes:

• The upcoming Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 video game
• A developing partnership with Amazon Studios
• Henry Cavill's Warhammer 40K cinematic universe