Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate Daemonhunters preview: 40K XCOM finally on Xbox Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is coming to Xbox next month. Here are our thoughts from a recent hands-on session with the turn-based strategy game.Tom West Published 18 Jan 2024 FollowtopicsFrontier FoundryXbox Series X|SArticleTom West Complex Games' XCOM-style turn-based strategy game, Warhammer 40:000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is heading to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on February 20. We recently had a chance to check out this Grey Knight-focused entry into Games Workshop's universe, which forces you to rethink the tight-knit squad play you've become accustomed to in similar games from the genre.The Emperor of humanity has sat on the Golden Throne for more than a hundred centuries, waging war against the forces of Chaos. Among the vast forces at his disposal, none are more deadly than the secret order of Grey Knight Space Marines, humanity's blade against the daemon hordes.With their current commander deceased from a recent campaign against a Khornate cult, a ship in dire need of repairs, and a weary force of Space Marines needing rest, the Grey Knight Chapter looks to you to take command when a new threat emerges. Resting will have to wait, as Inquisitor Kartha Vakir needs the Knights to investigate a plague known as The Bloom that could have galactic consequences.Last week, I had the opportunity to visit publisher Frontier for a two-and-a-half-hour hands-on session with Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters on Xbox, putting the game through its paces with a controller. Being a console-focused player, I hadn't played Daemonhunters before my time with the preview build, but I was pleasantly surprised by how familiar the controls feel compared to other games in the genre that have reached console before.Missions, Grey Knight customization, and the like all take place on your ship, The Baleful Edict — if you've played Tindulus Interactive's fantastic Aliens: Dark Descent, the general menu layout will feel familiar. Once loaded into a mission, the turn-based tactics of XCOM: Enemy Unknown kick in, giving you control of your four Grey Knights as they attempt to eradicate the Bloom threat. Unlike the tight, squad-based gameplay of XCOM, Daemonhunters plays far better when you split everyone up.I was given the chance to play a few missions during my time with the preview build, and it quickly became apparent that spreading out my squad offered far more strategic options. Gone are percentage-based chances of hitting the enemy when attacking because the Grey Knights don't miss, and getting these hulking warriors into melee range is a great opportunity to crush your would-be victim with relative ease. With that in mind, I favored running two Knights with large melee weapons and two others with ranged firearms. By sending two melee brutes in to pummel your foes, your ranged Knights can then flank the enemy with relative ease — when additional firepower is needed, a grenade is always a satisfying option.Throughout the missions, interactive environmental items offer even more opportunities for devastating attacks on your enemy. Whether it's pushing a statue on top of the units using it as a cover or blasting holes through a flaming brazier to set the immediate area slightly, there are a host of options to take advantage of. Whether used as an off-the-cuff chance to weaken the enemy, or as a strategic move to create a choke point, environmental items can help your Grey Knights gain the advantage on the battlefield if you decide to use them, but sometimes they're a hidden necessity.Frontier set us the challenge of taking down Cruciatus the Generous, a massive 'Herald of the Bloom,' as our final outing with the Grey Knights, and it was a fight that changed the gameplay I had become accustomed to. First up, he had regenerative armor that I needed to destroy before causing any damage to him, which proved a difficult task and a slow process during my turn attacking him. Secondly, unlike the basic enemies you fight who don't fight back when you attack them, Cruciatus will charge across the battlefield to smash your Grey Knight into the ground for having the nerve to shoot him. It was an epic experience and one that became incredibly satisfying when I realized I could send a Knight to operate a crane to smash him to pieces once he was in range — I just had to entice him into the area and flip the switch... bye bye, Cruciatus. I had a great time playing, so I'll definitely be picking up Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters when it launches on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on February 20.Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters will launch with two editions: Standard ($44.00 / £34.99 / €44.99) and the Purifier Edition ($49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99) — there is currently a 15% discount and a preorder bonus DLC pack called Relics of Titan.The Purifier Edition includes an exclusive and powerful Grey Knight called Castellan Garran Crowe, Champion of the Order of Purifiers. "A flawless soul entrusted with one of the Order’s most heinous possessions — the Black Blade of Antwyr. This daemon weapon houses an entity that incessantly whispers, cajoles, and screams at its owner, promising untold power. Only safe in the hands of the Castellan, the guardian wields the blade to dispatch Daemonic foes without mercy."Castellan may be a badass in Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters, but he is also a powerful force in the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game, appearing in many Grey Knight-focused armies of hobbyists. Incorruptible and a beast on the battlefield, Castellan will make a very welcome addition to your squad in Complex Games' turn-based video game.We're yet to pick up the Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters achievements, but you can be sure that we'll let you know when they arrive!More Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters stories: Space Marine 2 is the biggest Warhammer 40K game launch on Xbox New Xbox games — February 19 to February 25 Xbox Series X|SXbox One Written by Tom WestTom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.