Alright fellow hobby maniacs, buckle up, because this year’s NOVA Open just got wild. It is the first time since 2017 that there are no official Games Workshop previews announced online.
And yet everyone’s buzzing about what that might mean. Over the years we have always relied on preview hype to fuel excitement, so this shift feels huge and more than a little bewildering. Still, given everything going on, we might actually be onto something exciting in person this week.
A Tradition Gone Quiet: No GW Previews Online
Let’s dive in, because since 2017, NOVA Open has always had previews posted online by GW. Now that has abruptly stopped. That absence has folks whispering that NOVA 2025 is the first one without fresh reveals since that big online push back in 2017. Instead, GW quietly canceled the usual preview announcements. They pulled the plug on similar previews like Dallas Open in 2025 and GenCon in 2024. So now we’re left wondering what the heck is going on.
Why Did GW Skip the Usual Online Reveal?
There are a few theories floating around, and honestly they are as juicy as a well-shadowed Ultramarine:
- Shifting Hype Strategy
Maybe GW is pivoting from flashy slideshow reveals to more intimate, in‑person hype. They are now planning an interactive Wednesday evening event at NOVA Open instead, with live Q&As, unreleased models on display, free beer, trivia, giveaways, painting stations, and even a Space Marine 2 team tournament. It feels like they want to build hype on the spot, rather than online beforehand. - Backlogged Reveal Calendar
Perhaps GW simply delivered big reveals already earlier in 2025 at events like the “Big Summer Preview” in July. That dump included stuff across Warhammer 40k, AoS, The Old World, Horus Heresy, Kill Team, and more. If they already unloaded tons of content recently, maybe they are spacing things out now. They also had a few releaes spoiled and htus may want to tighten up any leaks. - Online Fatigue or Overload
It might just be that the usual online reveal model is worn out. With fans burning through rumors and leaks nonstop, GW might want to switch to a model that rewards event attendance more than streaming.
Personally, I think it is a mix of those.
Final Thoughts
So what’s the wrap? NOVA Open 2025 marks the first time since 2017 without GW issuing online previews. That shift is weird, exciting, and maybe even strategic. They might be leaning toward building hype in person, after a Summer Preview that loaded a ton of new content early in the year. And honestly, who doesn’t love live Q&A, free beer, paint-and-take zones, and surprise model painting.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
