Overview
Warhammer Feminine Custodes Controversy, often known as the Warhammer 40K Femstodes Debate, refers to Video games Workshop, the creators of the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, confirming within the tenth Version Codex that there are feminine members of the Adeptus Custodes faction, which was beforehand presumed to be an all-male cadre of warriors throughout the lore and setting. The revelation was then confirmed on the official Twitter / X account for Warhammer Official (@warhammer) in mid-April 2024 and led to outrage among the many fandom, as some customers voiced that they discovered it pandering, woke and offensive, whereas others expressed that they did not suppose it was a giant deal. Many who have been followers of the idea additionally made fan artwork of feminine Custodes or memes mocking these angered by it.
Background
On April thirteenth, 2024, Video games Workshop introduced preorders for merchandise associated to the Orks and Adeptus Custodes, together with codexes for the tenth Version. Within the ebook that accompanied the brand new codexes for the Custodes, the ebook launched feminine Custodes, the primary time within the historical past of the sequence {that a} feminine Custodian has been talked about (seen beneath).
On April 14th, Video games Workshop responded to a person on the Warhammer Official (@warhammer) Twitter account asking why they made feminine Custodes by writing, “Because the first of the Ten Thousand have been created, there have at all times been feminine Custodians,” gaining over 3.2 million views, 2,800 retweets and 9,800 likes in at some point (proven beneath).
Developments
The announcement led to outrage and debate within the Warhammer fandom, as some customers discovered it a slap within the face to beforehand established Warhammer lore whereas others did not suppose it was problematic. The announcement recalled the “Feminine Area Marines” debate, which was a major second within the fandom years prior. The Area Marine faction has at all times been male in Warhammer lore, and within the 2020s, this led to some calls to Video games Workshop to diversify the gender of the faction, in addition to debate throughout the fandom on whether or not it ought to occur.
The affirmation of feminine Custodes resurfaced comparable arguments, as some followers have been upset that Warhammer gave the impression to be retconning beforehand established lore.
For instance, on April 14th, 2024, a Twitter person described the announcement as “fully [botch] the lore surrounding gene enhancing for tremendous troopers simply to shoehorn within the existence of feminine custodians,” gaining over 1,200 retweets and 12,000 likes in at some point (proven beneath, left). Additionally that day, Twitter person @ThuRockAndMetal joked that Video games Workshop was attempting to “gaslight” a fanbase recognized for its consideration to minute particulars, gaining over 450 retweets and 4,300 likes in at some point (proven beneath, proper).
On Reddit, a number of customers made memes voicing that they did not see the announcement as a giant deal. On April 14th, Redditor dazli69 posted a meme in /r/grimdank blaming the “Tradition Wars” for the fervor surrounding the announcement, gaining over 2,600 factors in at some point (proven beneath, left). On the fifteenth in the identical subreddit, Redditor GreyPlasticTransGirl posted an Increasing Mind meme through which “Why would I get mad on the web over wardollies” as the most important mind, gaining over 620 factors in a matter of hours (proven beneath, proper).
Quite a few YouTubers throughout the fandom additionally uploaded reactions and commentary to Femstodes in mid-April 2024, some reacting negatively or positively whereas others merely commented on the announcement or mentioned the lore.
For instance, YouTuber Auspex Techniques uploaded a video titled “Video games Workshop Writes FEMALE CUSTODES, Darkish Angels Errata, Battleforces Promoting Out + Extra” on April 14th, 2024, receiving over 82,000 views in at some point (seen beneath, left). On April fifteenth, YouTuber Majorkill uploaded a video titled “Feminine Custodes are actually 100% Canon | What does this imply for Warhammer 40k?” discussing the lore replace, receiving over 62,000 views in six hours (seen beneath, proper).
Varied publications additionally coated the lore change and response amongst followers because the information unfold, resembling Bell of Misplaced Souls, which printed an article titled “Warhammer 40K: Feminine Adeptus Custodes Confirmed” on April 14th.
Some customers additionally started posting art work of feminine Custodes, like DeviantArt person Eliphusz, who posted art work titled “Feminine Custodes Headpats” on April 14th, 2024, receiving over 2,600 views, 130 favorites and 40 feedback in at some point (proven beneath).
