One of the most requested features from fans of Boltgun was to add a second playable character to the game, in addition to Malum Caedo. Right from the start, we knew we wanted to do this for Boltgun 2, especially as it aligned so well with two of our goals for the game: adding more variety and replayability.

Today I’m excited to share more about our new player character: Nyra Veyrath, a battle-hardened Sister of Battle Celestian who loves nothing more than bathing heretics in righteous flames.

A Wild Torrent of Flame

To make for a truly different experience, it was important to us that Nyra had her own unique set of weapons. When it comes to Sisters of Battle, their “holy trinity” of guns are bolters, flamers, and melta weapons, so we knew we had to do these justice.

We’ve spent a lot of time during development making sure her flame-based weapons are as gratifying as possible to use. For these weapons more than most, visual and audio feedback can make or break their feel. They’ve got to be convincingly destructive – as befits a wild torrent of flame – whilst still clearly communicating to the player where and how damage is being applied. My personal favourite is the Heavy Flamer — our internal goal was to make a weapon that feels like the end of the world, and I’m very happy with (and slightly terrified by) the results.

Enhancing Mobility with Fervent Slide

For a breakneck-paced shooter like Boltgun 2, mobility is key when creating a new character – especially for Nyra, who we wanted to feel even more agile than Malum.

One of Nyra’s core abilities is Fervent Slide, a rapid means of getting around levels, with the bonus that it’ll tear right through any cultists in your path. By pressing jump during the slide, Nyra uses her momentum to perform a special Leap – an effective way of reaching higher areas.

Immediacy is a central pillar for Boltgun 2, and part of that means creating abilities that are instantly understandable and satisfying to use. Onto that straightforward base we add optional layers of functionality, expanding the ability’s utility in the game.

As such, Fervent Slide is a great way to both enter and escape combat, whilst the Leap is not only a handy means of reaching high ground, but also – as you can slow time by holding jump – can be used to take stock of the battle around you, or to take some precision shots with your current weapon.

Melting the Enemies of the Emperor

We really wanted to ramp up grenades for Boltgun 2 and make them a unique part of each character’s arsenal. To suit Nyra’s affinity for righteous flame, she has a devastating Melta Bomb at her disposal.

Again, the ability is straightforward to use: simply lob the bomb at an unfortunate heretic and watch the explosion. But there’s added depth to play around with: Holding throw will

slow time whilst priming the grenade, allowing a more precise throw, whilst pressing it again after it’s thrown will detonate it early. The latter allows high skill play such as exploding the bomb over a group of enemies. Or, if you really want to impress the Emperor, you can shoot the bomb in midair…

Adding a Cutting Edge

Anyone who has played Boltgun will know Malum Caedo’s Chainsword is an integral part of his gameplay. When it came to Nyra, we needed her Power Sword to feel equally important to her character.

We wanted her first ranged weapon in the game to be a one-handed Bolt Pistol partly because it allowed us to show the Power Sword on screen at the same time. That way we’re immediately encouraging the player to get in the faces of your enemies, performing vicious combo slashes with the Power Sword.

And for enemies just out of reach, holding the melee attack button performs a forward thrust with the sword, causing increased damage and often showering the screen in gore.

Reinforcing the themes of mobility and extra utility, the thrust attack can also be used as a means of moving around. For this and Nyra’s other abilities, we’re really looking forward to players’ creativity in how they use and combine them.

Boltgun 2 Key Art Reveal

As you may have noticed at the top of the post, we wanted to share the brand-new key art for Boltgun 2! This was created by the supremely talented Johan Grenier, who also created the key art for the original Boltgun! In the new key art for Boltgun 2, Nyra naturally takes centre stage alongside Malum on a battlefield of chaos factions.

This is only the start for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 and we’ll have even more exciting reveals to share over the next few months! Be sure to add Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 to your wishlist to be notified when it releases later this year, and follow Auroch Digital on X, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for all the latest updates.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2

Devolver Digital, Big Fan Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is the brutal and fast-paced sequel to retro FPS Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun.

Following directly on from the end of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, your duty takes you to new locations in a branching, single-player campaign that effortlessly blends the grimdark Warhammer 40,000 universe with a fast-paced first-person shooter.

A New Champion

Lock in as one of two playable characters, each offering their own unique abilities, weapons, and play style.

Dominate combat as the unrelenting force that is Malum Caedo, a formidable Sternguard Veteran with a reputation for purging heretics. Or quickly take control of the battlefield as the swift and nimble Sister of Battle, Nyra Veyrath, torching enemies and leaving only ashes in her wake.

Discover New Worlds

Take the fight to never-before-seen worlds and vanquish the foes that lurk there. From the colossal heights of a hive city to the impenetrable mangrove swamps of a jungle, you’ll need to overcome the challenges of each biome to complete your mission.

Bloody Action-Packed Combat

Built on the explosive combat of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, charge headfirst into glorious battle armed with an arsenal of deadly Space Marine weapons. Shred enemies with your lethal chainsword or blast them into an explosion of pixels and blood with your Shotgun!

Never-Before-Seen Foes

As your arsenal improves, so do the enemies! The ferocious Bloodletters and their daemonic Juggernauts are a near unstoppable force as they charge into battle hungry for blood!

Features

Two Playable Characters – Play as the formidable Malum Caedo or battle-hardened Nyra Veyrath, each with their own playstyle.
Explosive FPS Gameplay – Obliterate foes in high-octane combat.
Branching Campaign – Choose your own path through the campaign with each branch featuring unique levels.
NEW Enemies – Face never-before-seen foes from different factions.
NEW Weapons – Eviscerate hordes of relentless heretical scum with devastating weapons.
NEW Locations – Discover a range of worlds and biomes.
Navigation Guide – Effortlessly navigate the battlefield so you’re always at the center of the combat.
AND MORE!