2025-07-13 07:00:00
www.pcgamer.com
A question: has Owlcat Games considered not releasing a game in a buggy and unbalanced state? Just over a year ago, the studio issued one of the biggest patches I’d ever seen for its incredibly ambitious and equally wonky CRPG Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader. Now, another voluminous changelog is upon us, this time directed at Rogue Trader’s recently released expansion: Lex Imperialis.
While the changes in update 1.4.1 aren’t quite so drastic that Owlcat feels obliged to give you a free shot at respeccing your character—as was the case in February last year—they still go way beyond minor fixes and tweaks. Primarily, the update makes the expansion’s new party character—the Arbites officer Solomorne Anthar—appear much earlier in the game than before.
You can now start his recruitment mission at the outset of Act II, while players already beyond that point will be able to pursue Anthar and his accompanying Cyber Mastiff after a couple of warp jumps.

Best gaming rigs 2025
This isn’t the only feature added by the DLC which the patch brings forward. The Heartless, a new escort ship for your Rogue Trader’s fleet, can also join up with you from Act II onwards. This apparently alters the trajectory of the story slightly, but Owlcat has smoothed this over with some “narrative adjustments”.
Continuing on the subject of narrative, the update gives Solomorne extra lines of dialogue, including the ability to voice his opinions when your Rogue Trader decides the fate of colonies he, uh, invests in. Meanwhile, dialogues relating to characters and locations introduced in the expansion have been improved and adjusted more broadly.
The update also makes numerous mechanical tweaks to Rogue Trader. These are way too numerous and nitty-gritty to go into in great detail, but it’s worth highlighting the changes directed toward Anthar’s cyber mastiff. The mastiff’s ‘Terror Battle’ mode now stacks up to 100 times, while its regeneration ability has been adjusted to function through several additional effects, such as warp burning.
Elsewhere, an array of in-game items have been tweaked, such as the vindicator flamer, which has an increased AoE attack pattern size for more widespread incineration. There are also numerous UI and localisation fixes, plus a few small adjustments to cooperative play. For example, Rogue Trader now stops cooperative players from touching one another’s familiars, which certainly sounds like something the Omnissiah would frown upon.
Hopefully, these changes will make the Lex Imperialis DLC a smoother ride for players, and perhaps raise it above its current ‘Mixed’ rating on Steam. Though it would be preferable if Owlcat could release games in this state from the outset. While I understand games like this are enormously complicated, and Owlcat tends to punch above its weight when making RPGs, the studio also isn’t exactly new to this, and it’s a shame the fundamental quality of its games is so often clouded by being released in a less-than-ideal state.
Take your gaming to the next level! The Redragon S101 RGB Backlit Gaming Keyboard is an Amazon’s Choice product that delivers incredible value. This all-in-one PC Gamer Value Kit includes a Programmable Backlit Gaming Mouse, perfect for competitive gaming or casual use.
With 46,015 ratings, an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars, and over 4K+ bought in the past month, this kit is trusted by gamers everywhere! Available now for just $39.99 on Amazon. Plus, act fast and snag an exclusive 15% off coupon – but hurry, this offer won’t last long!
Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support
If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.
As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!
BITCOIN bc1qlszw7elx2qahjwvaryh0tkgg8y68enw30gpvge Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
DOGECOIN D64GwvvYQxFXYyan3oQCrmWfidf6T3JpBA Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
ETHEREUM 0xe9BC980DF3d985730dA827996B43E4A62CCBAA7a Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
Please read the Privacy and Security Disclaimer on how Techcratic handles your support.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, Techcratic may earn from qualifying purchases.