Games Workshop and Fatshark are swapping perspective in their next Warhammer collaboration. Deathmaster, a newly-announced platformer set in the Age of Sigmar universe, lets players control a Skaven assassin instead of slaughtering the rat-folk they've mowed down across multiple Vermintide games.
The shift marks a departure from Fatshark's established formula. The studio built its reputation on first-person melee combat through Vermintide 1 and 2, where players hunted Skaven hordes as human heroes. Deathmaster inverts that dynamic entirely. Players now inhabit a murderous ratman navigating platforming sequences and stealth-focused gameplay rather than facing waves of enemies head-on.
This pivot suggests Games Workshop wants to explore different corners of its massive Warhammer IP. Age of Sigmar's sprawling world offers more than first-person slaughter. The platformer genre gives Fatshark room to experiment with narrative-driven gameplay and environmental storytelling, both areas the Vermintide games largely sidelined.
The Skaven perspective adds narrative weight. These creatures function as disposable cannon fodder in most Warhammer media. Making one the protagonist forces players to reconsider the faction's agency and complexity. Deathmaster frames the rat-people as individuals with ambitions, not just threats to eliminate. That's compelling character work for a studio known for combat-focused experiences.
Whether Fatshark can translate its melee expertise into platformer design remains uncertain. The studio excels at crafting satisfying combat loops and enemy variety. Platformers demand precision level design, momentum-based movement, and environmental puzzle-solving. These are different skill sets entirely.
The announcement generates immediate interest from the Warhammer faithful tired of the Vermintide formula. PC