Steamforged Games Brings Warmachine Back to Life at Adepticon

The creative leads behind the iconic wargame share their vision for the franchise's future.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:17pm

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An extreme close-up of highly detailed, intricately textured gaming miniatures captured in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the premium quality and craftsmanship Steamforged Games is bringing to the Warmachine franchise.Steamforged Games' meticulous attention to detail and production quality aims to elevate the Warmachine gaming experience for new and longtime fans alike.Today in Milwaukee

Wargamer journalist Timothy Linward spent a week embedded with the Steamforged Games team at the Adepticon convention, observing as they prepared to showcase their plans for reviving the Warmachine franchise. From overcoming travel challenges to leading narrative events and tournament play, the SFG team demonstrated their passion for the game they now own, balancing business decisions with fan excitement.

Why it matters

Warmachine was once a dominant force in the tabletop wargaming scene, but had fallen on harder times under previous owner Privateer Press. Steamforged Games' acquisition of the IP represents a chance to breathe new life into the game, appealing to longtime fans while also attracting new players through updated mechanics and a renewed focus on narrative gameplay.

The details

The Steamforged Games team, including co-founders Mat Hart and Rich Loxam, product owners Jamie Perkins and Sherwin Matthews, and marketing director Chynna-Blue Scott, worked tirelessly to build an impressive booth and host a variety of events at Adepticon. This included setting up a massive multiplayer narrative game overseen by Matthews, as well as Loxam showcasing his competitive Warmachine skills in a local game store. The team discussed their plans to revamp the army release model, focusing on 50-point starter armies rather than the previous 'core, auxiliary, and battle group' structure.

  • The Steamforged Games team arrived in Milwaukee several days before the start of Adepticon to set up their booth and prepare for the convention.
  • On the flight to the US, Loxam and Perkins spent time discussing Warmachine strategy and list-building, demonstrating their deep passion for the game.
  • During the convention, the SFG team spent long hours working to ensure their keynote presentation and other events were executed flawlessly.

The players

Steamforged Games

The game design studio that now owns the rights to the Warmachine franchise, founded by Mat Hart and Rich Loxam.

Jamie Perkins

A Warmachine product owner at Steamforged Games, with a long history as a competitive player and tournament organizer.

Sherwin Matthews

The narrative lead at Steamforged Games, responsible for maintaining the coherence and excitement of the Warmachine world of Immoren.

Chynna-Blue Scott

The marketing director at Steamforged Games, who balances her efficient business persona with a genuine enthusiasm for the Warmachine community.

Mikey Herbert (Hellstorm Mikey)

A Warmachine enthusiast and YouTuber who was hired by Steamforged Games to handle the livestream of their Adepticon keynote.

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What they’re saying

“I was just a born wargamer… well. It's my religion.”

— Jamie Perkins, Warmachine Product Owner

“When he's playing I obviously can't talk to him because he's concentrating, but we've got a code where he'll squeeze my leg a number of times if it's going well or if it's going badly.”

— Chynna-Blue Scott, Marketing Director

“You've got to keep the fan and the designer separate. You've got to take business decisions that work for fans and for the business.”

— Jamie Perkins, Warmachine Product Owner

What’s next

Steamforged Games plans to continue refining the Warmachine release model, focusing on 50-point starter armies to make the game more accessible for new players. The company will also maintain a strong emphasis on narrative gameplay and events to engage the existing community.

The takeaway

Steamforged Games' acquisition of the Warmachine IP represents an opportunity to revitalize the beloved wargame, drawing on the deep passion and expertise of the team. By balancing business considerations with fan enthusiasm, SFG hopes to grow the Warmachine community and ensure the game's long-term success.