The unexpected news that Space Marine 3 is now in development sent ripples of excitement through the Warhammer 40,000 community, but also raised questions about the ongoing support for Space Marine 2.
Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive revealed plans for Space Marine 3 in mid-March, a mere six months after the release of Space Marine 2. This announcement came at a time when players were already curious about future content plans for the current game.
In a new blog post, the companies directly addressed these concerns, committing to continued support for Space Marine 2 and sharing significant news about upcoming additions.
"Last month, we announced the start of development on Space Marine 3 and have been thrilled by your enthusiasm. We also hear the concerns from players about the future of Space Marine 2," the statement read.
"Let us be clear: the development of Space Marine 3 does not signal the end for Space Marine 2. Far from it. No development teams are being moved, the game is not being abandoned, and our plans to deliver more exciting content for Space Marine 2 are unchanged."
So, what exactly are those plans? The Year One roadmap for Space Marine 2 remains active, with Patch 7 scheduled for a mid-April release. Furthermore, in the coming months, players can anticipate a new class, fresh PvE operations, and additional melee weapons. "We promise, there are surprises in store that even the most dedicated dataminers haven't uncovered :)" the statement teased.
"This announcement simply marks the beginning of a new project that is still years away from launch. We've made the decision and have just started the initial development process.
"Many of you have expressed incredible excitement for this new project, which makes us tremendously happy and motivated. Thank you for your unwavering support.
"That said, we still have a wealth of content planned for Space Marine 2 players."
The most significant reveal is the new class, with the promised melee weapon also generating considerable buzz. The community is already theorizing about the possibilities. For the new class, many speculate it will be the Apothecary, the closest equivalent to a medic for the Space Marines. Others are hopeful for the Librarian, which would introduce powerful warp-based abilities.
As for the new melee weapon, fans have voiced a strong desire to see the axe featured in Secret Level's acclaimed Warhammer 40,000 animated episode added to the game—a wish so fervent that modders have already created their own versions.
The green light for Space Marine 3 is hardly a shock given the commercial and critical success of its predecessor. In an interview with IGN following the launch of Space Marine 2, Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits mentioned potential story DLC and confirmed that early concepts for a third game were already being discussed. Without spoiling the campaign of Space Marine 2, its conclusion strongly hints at a direct narrative continuation (IGN has previously reported on the likely enemy faction for Space Marine 3).
"Our game director, Dmitry Grigorenko, has put forward some narrative ideas that could work as either DLC or a sequel," Willits said at the time. "Absolutely! There are so many different factions to explore... and other Space Marine Chapters that would be fascinating to feature..."
