The Warhammer 40,000 community was rocked by the unexpected announcement of Space Marine 3's development, just six months after the release of Space Marine 2. Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive made the announcement in mid-March, amidst ongoing concerns about the content pipeline for Space Marine 2 and its ability to retain player interest.
In a new blog post, both companies tackled these concerns head-on, reassuring fans that they remain committed to supporting Space Marine 2. They emphasized that the announcement of Space Marine 3 does not signal the end of development for its predecessor. "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 statement clarified.
Space Marine 2's year one roadmap is still in place, with Patch 7 scheduled for mid-April. Additionally, the game is set to receive exciting new content in the coming months, including a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons. The developers hinted at undisclosed surprises, teasing, "Trust us, there are surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about :)."
Space Marine 3 is described as a project that is years away from release, marking the beginning of a new journey rather than the conclusion of the current one. The developers expressed gratitude for the community's enthusiasm and reaffirmed their dedication to delivering more content for Space Marine 2.
The announcement of a new class for Space Marine 2 has sparked speculation among fans. Many believe it could be the Apothecary, akin to a medic class, while others hope for the Librarian, which would introduce warp-powered space magic into the gameplay. The new melee weapon has also captured fans' imaginations, with many expressing a desire to see the iconic axe from Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode incorporated into the game. Modders have already taken the initiative to add this weapon themselves.
The decision to move forward with Space Marine 3 was influenced by the strong performance of Space Marine 2. In an interview with IGN following Space Marine 2's launch, Saber Interactive Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits mentioned the potential for story DLC and shared that ideas for Space Marine 3 were already being considered. He hinted at the possibility of exploring different factions and other chapters, suggesting a continuation of the narrative that could lead into the next installment.
