Numerous Warhammer players are cancelling their subscriptions and announcing a boycott of Games Workshop after the company retconned their Adeptus Custodes faction to add females.
Warhammer 40,000: Codex: Adeptus Custodes (2024), Games Workshop
Excerpts from the upcoming 10th edition of Codex: Adeptus Custodes revealed that Games Workshop was adding females to the all-male faction. One excerpt reads, “Custodian Calladayce Taorvalia Kesh stood upon the bridge of a Cobra-class destroyer. Named Vigilant Flame, the warship belonged to the mighty Battlefleet Solar. She lingered in the shadows at the back of the bridge, positioned at a spot where she could observe the actions of every crew member be they in the instrumentation pits, at the armament shrines or — in the case of Shipmaster Lethwyck — stood ramrod straight before his command throne.”
An excerpt from a Codex: Adeptus Custodes (2024), Black Library
READ: Games Workshop Denies Obvious Retcons to Adeptus Custodes By Introducing Female Space Marines
Another excerpt makes it clear the that Kesh is indeed a female Custodes given that she wields a guardian spear. It states, “Kesh was warned before anyone else aboard, sensing a sudden empyric energy spike coupled with the surge of overpressure and sharp temperature drop that presaged a teleport strike. Her guardian spear was levelled and armed before the first cry of alarm or howl of a klaxon rang through the bridge.”
An excerpt from a Warhammer codex
Games Workshop confirmed the retcon, but chose to confuse its own fans and players by claiming that there have always been female Custodes. The company posted on X, “Since the first of the Ten Thousand were created, there have always been female Custodians.”
Warhammer on X
Following this retcon and the the denial of this retcon from Games Workshop, numerous hobbyists, enthusiasts, and former customers have cancelled their subscriptions to Games Workshop’s subscription service Warhammer+ and have pledged to boycott the company going forward.
On April 14th, X user GrimmDark1 shared a screenshot of him canceling his subscription. He wrote, “Kiss my a** GW. Not another penny.”
Kiss my ass GW. Not another penny. pic.twitter.com/e2AKktlxD2
— Brother ‘Bulwark’ Grimm 🇬🇧🏴 (@GrimmDark1) April 14, 2024
He explained why he canceled and why he’s boycotting in a subsequent post, ‘For those asking “wut happen?’ GW disrespected their lore by changing decades old lore of the Custodies only taking males from the highborn families of Terra to become Custodies to ‘Nah women can be Custodies now too, and they’ve totally always been a thing since the beginning! Even though they’ve never been mentioned in any codex or BL book before. We totally aren’t doing this for ESG money from Blackrock and Vanguard!’.”
For those asking “wut happen?” GW disrespected their lore by changing decades old lore of the Custodies only taking males from the highborn families of Terra to become Custodies to “Nah women can be Custodies now too, and they’ve totally always been a thing since the beginning!…
— Brother ‘Bulwark’ Grimm 🇬🇧🏴 (@GrimmDark1) April 15, 2024
READ: Games Workshop Announces Warhammer 40,000 Universe Officially Greenlit At Prime Video
Another user Velrunar responded to GrimmDark1 informing he was boycotting Games Workshop as well.
He wrote, “Right there with you. I don’t think I’ll be buy anything else from GW. And I’m not even sure if I want to keep anything anymore.”
Velrunar on X
Others announced they also cancelled their Warhammer+ subscriptions. EconAdept wrote on X, “I canceled mine too. I’m married with kids.” He also shared a screenshot of him explaining why he canceled his subscription, “you betrayed the lore, and the fans. I will no longer spend money with your company.”
I canceled mine too.
I’m married with kids. pic.twitter.com/No8xGQ4Gfa
— Adeptus Econicus (@EconAdept) April 15, 2024
RandyAgII1 also shared, “I have canceled mine and sending an email that I want a refund. If the decline I will dispute it with the bank and have it charged back. I am not renewing my white dwarf subscription, and I was planning to do the new imperium subscription, combat patrol. Not now.”
RandyAGII1 on X
BarronAust also indicated he would be boycotting the company moving forward, “I’ve enjoyed this hobby since 2nd as well. Long nights playing games with friends in a basement for years. I probably have models older then some of these people calling me a ‘Tourist’ yah sure now watch me leave with the money I would have spent on future stuff.”
BarronAust on X
READ: Henry Cavill Shares Brief Update On Prime Video’s Warhammer 40,000 Cinematic Universe
TheMetroidPrime wrote, “It goes further for me. I also unsubscribed to the 40k channels I was following, except for Arch’s second channel just to track in impending sh*tshow that this IP will become. If the source material turns to slop, there is zero interest in having it regurgitated by Youtubers.”
TheMetroidPrime on X
Johnny_Dingo666 responded to TheMetroidPrime and wrote, “I’m doing the same. Except Baldermort. I knew this s*tshow would come to 40k, but it still kinda sucks when it actually happens.”
Johnny_Dingo666 on X
Chrisha77901201 also noted he was boycotting the company, “I feel you, I’ve been in the hobby since 1998, work a well paid job and getting married later this year. God forbid those welfare left can afford WH+ but I cancelled mine as well. I hate people forcing an unwanted change on something already inclusive and representative.”
Chrisha77901201 on X
KhorneDog wrote, “I was gonna get one of the chaos battleforces due out this spring but I’m gonna spend my money elsewhere I think. Warhammer, if you have this little respect for the lore, the intelligence of your customers, why bother? I’ll stick with #oldhammer in future.”
KhorneDog on X
What do you make of these hobbyists, players, and enthusiasts canceling their subscriptions to Warhammer+ and boycotting Games Workshop?
