The leaks have been building for weeks. First came screenshots. Then alleged gameplay footage. Now, leaker Intercelluar has gone the full distance and posted what appears to be the official name and cover art for the next Worms game: Worms Galactic Tactics, developed by Absolutely Games under the internal codename Project Arrakis. For fans of Worms Armageddon who have been waiting years for a proper new entry in the series, this is the moment the rumor mill finally has something concrete to chew on.
Use code GGWP67 at checkout to redeem this offer before code expires again.
Get 67% Off GAMES+ Subscription
From whispers to a name on the box
The timeline here matters. Rumblings of a new Worms title had been circulating for a while before any real details surfaced. Early leaks pointed to a game in development, but nothing concrete enough to get excited about. That changed when gameplay footage started appearing online, hinting at something that looked very different from the classic artillery formula the series is known for.
Then on August 20, Intercelluar posted the clearest signal yet: the game's name, Worms Galactic Tactics, alongside cover art that fits the franchise's signature style. Cheerful worms, ridiculous weapons, and that slightly unhinged energy that has defined the series since the 1990s. The cover art looks like official marketing material, not a fan mock-up.
This is not your dad's Worms game
Here's the thing: the early gameplay footage that surfaced before this name drop suggested Worms Galactic Tactics is not a traditional Worms title. The structure looks closer to XCOM or Mario + Rabbids than to the turn-based artillery chaos of the classic games. That means grid-based movement, tactical positioning, and squad management rather than the physics-driven projectile comedy most fans associate with the franchise.
That is a significant shift. The Worms series has experimented before, with mixed results, but a full pivot to XCOM-style strategy games is a bigger swing than anything the franchise has attempted in recent memory. Whether that lands with the existing fanbase is an open question.
Absolutely Games is the studio behind the project, listed under the Project Arrakis codename. The studio is not a household name, which makes this an interesting pairing with one of gaming's most recognizable franchises.
The Gamescom timing is hard to ignore
Intercelluar has form here. This is the same leaker who revealed Rayman Legends: Retold shortly before its official announcement, and who posted details about an Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced DLC pack before that surfaced officially. The track record is solid enough that this leak deserves to be taken seriously.
What makes the timing notable is that Gamescom 2026 is happening right now. Opening Night Live is the kind of stage where a surprise like this fits perfectly, and the pattern with Rayman Legends: Retold was almost identical. Leak drops, Gamescom follows, announcement happens. That is not a guarantee, but the sequence is familiar.
If Worms Galactic Tactics does get a proper reveal at Gamescom, fans will finally get answers about what this tactical spin-off actually looks like in motion, how deep the strategy layer goes, and whether Team17 is positioning it as a mainline entry or a side project.
For anyone wanting to brush up on the series while waiting for news, the Worms Armageddon guide collection covers the classic game in depth. And if tactical games are your thing, the broader gaming guides hub has plenty to keep you busy until an official reveal lands.
