White Dwarf magazine is Games Workshop’s official hobby publication, running since 1977. It started as a general RPG and board game mag and grew into the house magazine for Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, and Citadel Miniatures.
What White Dwarf magazine is
It’s the magazine Games Workshop publishes to promote and support its own games and miniatures. These days that means Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Warhammer 40,000, The Horus Heresy, and the various specialist games.
The name was picked for its double meaning: a real astronomical object and a fantasy character, which let it appeal to both sci-fi and fantasy readers back when it covered both.
How it changed over the years
The first issue landed in June 1977, a 20-page glossy booklet with a two-colour cover and a print run of 4,000 copies. It came out every other month at first and carried on the RPG and board game coverage from Games Workshop’s earlier newsletter, Owl and Weasel.
Through the early 1980s it covered big RPGs of the day like Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest, and Traveller, alongside comics such as Thrud the Barbarian and Dave Langford’s Critical Mass book reviews. It went monthly with issue 32 in August 1982.
The first Warhammer article appeared in issue 45 (September 1983). By the late 1980s the magazine had dropped outside RPGs and focused solely on Games Workshop’s own miniature wargames. It was selling around 50,000 copies a month by 1987.
- 1977: first issue, bi-monthly, 20 pages, 4,000 copies
- 1982: switches to monthly with issue 32
- 1983: first Warhammer article in issue 45
- Late 1980s: drops third-party RPG coverage, goes all-in on Games Workshop games
- 2010s: experiments with White Dwarf Weekly and White Dwarf Daily
What’s inside an issue
A typical issue mixes new rules and rules updates, battle reports, painting guides, hobby advice, previews of upcoming releases, and short fiction. The exact balance shifts depending on what Games Workshop is pushing that month.
There have also been regional editions over the years, including versions for Australia, France, Germany, and the United States, plus a long list of editors who’ve shaped its voice.
Why it matters to 40k fans
For a long stretch, White Dwarf was where new 40k rules, units, and lore showed up first. It’s still the main official channel for previews, designer commentary, and hobby content that doesn’t fit in a codex.
It also doubles as a time capsule. Back issues are a window into how the game looked and played in each edition, which is why collectors still chase early issues.
Key facts
- Published by Games Workshop since June 1977
- First issue was 20 pages, bi-monthly, with a 4,000-copy print run
- Went monthly with issue 32 in August 1982
- First Warhammer article appeared in issue 45 (September 1983)
- Dropped third-party RPG coverage in the late 1980s to focus on Games Workshop games
- Was selling roughly 50,000 copies a month by 1987
FAQ
Is White Dwarf magazine still published?
Yes. Games Workshop has kept it running since 1977, though the format and schedule have changed several times, including a weekly run in the 2010s before returning to monthly.
Is White Dwarf only about Warhammer 40,000?
No. It covers all of Games Workshop’s main games, so you’ll see Age of Sigmar, The Horus Heresy, and specialist games alongside 40k content.
When did White Dwarf stop covering Dungeons & Dragons and other RPGs?
It phased out third-party RPG coverage in the late 1980s and has focused on Games Workshop’s own miniature games since then.