How Big is the Warhammer 40k Fanbase?
Since the days when fandoms were more an underground activity for social outcasts, weirdos, and those seeking long-term escapism from an unsatisfying life, Warhammer 40k has come to its own. Let's explore the growth and reach of this impressive fanbase, underpinned by the widespread availability of high-speed internet and advancements in graphic design and immersive worlds.
Compared to Other Fandoms
To understand the size of the Warhammer 40k fanbase, it's useful to compare it with other well-known franchises. This will give us a more rounded perspective on its popularity and the dedication of its followers.
Star Wars
Star Wars stands as a prime example of a highly popular franchise with a dedicated fanbase. On Reddit, it has a user base of 3.8 million, and on the official Facebook Page, it has 18 million followers. YouTube videos often reach 50 million views with upvotes in the millions. However, the community's online presence is balanced, with only a few hundred fan groups and limited activity on traditional forums. There are around 700,000 images related to Star Wars on DeviantArt.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, despite its extensive media coverage, boasts a significant online presence. The Reddit community has 3.4 million users, and it has over 200000 members in some of the largest Facebook Groups. The official Facebook Page has 21 million followers, and there are several fan-run pages with over 1 million followers. With over 500000 images on DeviantArt, it shows a substantial fan community with a strong creative element.
Star Trek
Star Trek has a fanbase that is still strong but not as massive as other franchises. Its Reddit community is under 1 million users, and its highest viewed YouTube videos are from years past. The official Facebook Page has 3.1 million followers, with some unofficial Facebook groups having over 1 million. There are about 200000 related images on DeviantArt.
Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Rings has a dedicated but not overwhelmingly large community. The Reddit community has around 1 million members, with over 11 million followers on the official Facebook Page and several fan groups with over 100000 members. There are a dozen conventions still happening and about 200000 related images on DeviantArt.
Halo
Halo's fanbase is primarily online, with a Reddit community of 1.8 million users and an official Facebook Page followed by 3.3 million members. The largest fan Facebook Groups have over 100000 participants, and there are a few dozen thousand active members in various forums. With less than 500000 related images on DeviantArt, it demonstrates a solid but not extensive presence online.
Furries
The Furries community stands as one of the more active and expansive fandoms, with a Reddit user base of 400000 and Facebook pages with up to 12000 members. Several Facebook Groups have over 70000 members, and some of the largest sites have over 1 million users. They have around 1 million related images on DeviantArt and over 40 conventions worldwide.
My Little Pony
My Little Pony's community appears to be comparable to Warhammer 40k, with a few million more users. It has several fan-made content on YouTube that exceed the best for 40k. The official content ranks over 100 million views, but it's unknown how many are kids. The main Reddit community has under 200000 members, and the largest image-hosting site, Derpibooru, has just under 500000 users. The official Facebook Page has 1.4 million followers, and the main news site has 85000 followers on X with 300000 statistical user activity. There are over a dozen conventions still happening, and there's well over 1 million related images on DeviantArt.
Whoverse
The Whoverse has a Reddit community of over 800000 users and an official Facebook Page with 4.6 million followers. There are two others with just over 100000 followers, and some dozen-thousand groups. Forums are relatively meager. It does have over 1 million related images on DeviantArt.
In conclusion, the Warhammer 40k community falls somewhere between the Furries and the Whoverse. Some elements are more popular than Halo or even LOTR, while others are less so but not trailing behind drastically.
Keyword: Warhammer 40k, fanbase, online participation