The subversion of 40k can be stopped if fans of the franchise refuse to recognize anti-canonical subversion by GamesWorkshop. There are enough autistic 40k nerds that this should be possible.
For example, lets say GamesWorkshop introduces female Primaris marines. A number of 40k fans cry heresy. At a certain point the outcry becomes significant enough that the 40k Lords of Terra, a council of (some number) highly respected 40k personalities, convene. They cast votes on this issue: Is GamesWorkshop's introduction of female Primaris marines a heretical element?
If no, the element is accepted as canonical. If yes, then the 40k Council considers this element of lore non-canonical. Council members must come to an agreement on how this element is treated, and then update a website that collects lore and rulings related to lore. This resource is maintained solely by the community and is the primary way of tracking the fan-canonical universe.
Eventually if Games Workshop pushes things enough, then the universes diverge. Fortunately, the efforts of the Council up until this point are essentially a version-history of the universe. If GW diverges enough that the universes are no longer compatible, then fans have essentially created their own universe and could easily file the serial numbers off and launch the fan-universe as its own IP.
This is the correct take, HOWEVER:
The subversion of 40k can be stopped if fans of the franchise refuse to recognize anti-canonical subversion by GamesWorkshop. There are enough autistic 40k nerds that this should be possible.
For example, lets say GamesWorkshop introduces female Primaris marines. A number of 40k fans cry heresy. At a certain point the outcry becomes significant enough that the 40k Lords of Terra, a council of (some number) highly respected 40k personalities, convene. They cast votes on this issue: Is GamesWorkshop's introduction of female Primaris marines a heretical element?
If no, the element is accepted as canonical. If yes, then the 40k Council considers this element of lore non-canonical. Council members must come to an agreement on how this element is treated, and then update a website that collects lore and rulings related to lore. This resource is maintained solely by the community and is the primary way of tracking the fan-canonical universe.
Eventually if Games Workshop pushes things enough, then the universes diverge. Fortunately, the efforts of the Council up until this point are essentially a version-history of the universe. If GW diverges enough that the universes are no longer compatible, then fans have essentially created their own universe and could easily file the serial numbers off and launch the fan-universe as its own IP.