Owlcat Games, the studio behind Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, which has recently also taken on the role of publisher, announced plans to create its own game launcher called Owlcat Launcher.
The company describes the new launcher as a single interface for news and information covering all Owlcat titles — both the studio's own projects and third‑party games. The stated goal is to build a tool that is convenient, easy to use and genuinely helpful to players.
According to Owlcat, the launcher will not require mandatory registration. It is being developed entirely in‑house, will not install or rely on third‑party software, and the studio says it will not collect data from users' computers.
Initial testing of Owlcat Launcher will be conducted exclusively as part of the closed alpha for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. Those tests are scheduled to begin on January 27, 2026, and the alpha period is presented as the first step toward the launcher’s public rollout.
Planned basic functionality includes a browsable list of Owlcat games with detailed information, official announcements about projects, and the ability to purchase, install and launch titles regardless of which platform they were obtained on.
Beyond those fundamentals, Owlcat outlined a series of optional expanded features. These include a single, optional registration to streamline access to preorder pages, the ability to link existing Owlcat website accounts to a launcher account, and in‑launcher access to paid DLC such as digital soundtracks and artbooks. The launcher is also expected to support community features like event signups, contests and giveaways.
Owlcat said it intends to extend the launcher’s presence into other games after the Dark Heresy alpha tests conclude. The studio emphasised that adoption will be optional: they know many players react negatively to mandatory launchers, and Owlcat intends not to force its use. Games from the studio will continue to operate normally without the launcher.
In addition to the Dark Heresy alpha, Owlcat confirmed it is preparing The Expanse: Osiris Reborn for release and is working on several other, as yet unannounced, role‑playing projects.
The studio also published promotional images and screenshots to illustrate the launcher and its interface, and the announcement and details were shared via the Steam platform.