The Warhammer 40,000 community was rocked by the unexpected announcement of the development of Space Marine 3, just six months after the release of Space Marine 2. This news, announced by publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive in mid-March, raised concerns about the future of Space Marine 2 and its ongoing support.
In a recent blog post, both companies addressed these concerns, assuring fans that Space Marine 2 would continue to receive support. They emphasized that the development of Space Marine 3 does not mean the end of Space Marine 2's development cycle. They stated, "Space Marine 3 does not mean the end of Space Marine 2's development. Far from it. No teams are shifting over, no one is abandoning the game, and our plans to bring more awesome content to Space Marine 2 remain."
The blog post outlined the future plans for Space Marine 2, confirming that the year one roadmap is still in place. Patch 7 is scheduled for release in mid-April, and in the coming months, players can expect a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons. The statement tantalizingly hinted at surprises that even dataminers have yet to uncover, saying, "Trust us, there are surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about :)"
The announcement of Space Marine 3 is seen as the beginning of a new project that is years away from completion. The developers expressed their excitement about the project and gratitude for the community's support, stating, "Many of you were very excited for this project and this makes us incredibly happy and motivated. Thank you for the unwavering support."
The most anticipated addition to Space Marine 2 is the new class, speculated to be either an Apothecary, akin to a medic, or a Librarian, which would introduce warp-powered space magic. Additionally, the new melee weapon has sparked excitement, with fans hoping to see the axe from Secret Level's Warhammer 40,000 animated episode integrated into the game, a wish that modders have already begun to fulfill.
The decision to move forward with Space Marine 3 was not surprising, given the success of Space Marine 2. In an interview with IGN following the launch of Space Marine 2, Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits mentioned the potential for story DLC and shared that ideas for Space Marine 3 were already in discussion. Willits noted, "Our game director Dmitry Grigorenko, he has proposed some story ideas that could either be DLC or a sequel," hinting at the rich potential for expanding the Space Marine universe with new factions and chapters.
