Games Workshop is changing the name of their paint line and this feels oddly solemn. Citadel Colour is changing to Warhammer Colour.
I debated on how I even wanted to talk about this name change. As I was thinking about it I started remembering how long I’d been using GW’s paint line, aka Citadel Colour. They have been a big part of my own hobbying experience and honestly the name was something I just sort of took for granted. Heck, most of the time folks just called it GW paint. Which…yeah, it makes sense.
But it seems like Games Workshop has been moving away from the old school branding. Game Workshop Stores were updated to Warhammer Stores. The Citadel is actually a Warhammer Citadel store in Grapevine, TX. We’ve also had various 40k and other Warhammer logo updates through the years as well. Now, Citadel Colour is changing it’s name to Warhammer Colour. I guess it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it kind of feels like it should be. That’s probably just nostalgia talking.
After watching the video, I kinda get what they were going for. But at the same time, I literally NEVER had that experience when I was working retail in a FLGS. “I’m looking for paint.” *point to paint wrack* and that was pretty much it. I’d usually follow-up with questions like “what color are you looking for?” or “what are you painting?” and “do you need primer as well? I have to grab the key.” Those just seem like regular questions to ask. I honestly never had anyone ask “but this paint says [insert brand name] can I use that on my Warhammer (or other miniatures) as well?”
Same Paint, New Branding
Eh, whatever. It’s just a rebranding after all. It’s the same paint but with a different name. In fact, I’d argue this is less of a jarring experience then when GW renamed all their paints to names they could trademark. If you were around for that experience then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Really, I feel bad for the stores. Specifically the poor soul that’s going to have to change all the names/SKUs in whatever point-of-sale system they use. I’ve done that before and it’s tedious at best. If they are lucky, GW didn’t update the bar codes…
I am going to miss the Citadel name, but the paint is the same I guess that’s the important part. I also hope this means the GW is going to start shipping out more paint now. I don’t know about your local scene but a lot of local stores in my area seem to have a hard time keeping a full paint wrack. And I’m not just talking about Citadel Warhammer Colour either. It’s almost like there’s some sort of other factor cutting down on importing goods or something…
I’m still going to call it GW paint.
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Writer, Editor, Texas Native, and now Tex-Pat, Adam covers all things Tabletop Gaming. Which includes Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, D&D, Board Games and everything else that involves dice, boards, cards and a table.
A hobbyist, player, and collector of miniatures and games, Adam’s current obsession are his Death and Chaos Armies for Age of Sigmar, his Blood Angels and Tyranids for 40k, an expanding collection of Marvel: Crisis Protocol minis, and his ever growing Arkham Horror: The Card Game Collection.
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