Space Marine 2 Dev Clarifies: No Abandonment After Space Marine 3 Reveal

The announcement of the development of Space Marine 3 sent ripples of excitement and concern through the Warhammer 40,000 community, especially given that it came just six months after the release of Space Marine 2. Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive made this surprise announcement in mid-March, amidst ongoing discussions about the future content and support for Space Marine 2.

In a reassuring blog post, both companies addressed these concerns head-on. They emphasized their commitment to Space Marine 2, stating that the development of Space Marine 3 does not signify the end of support 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.

The blog post also outlined the future roadmap for Space Marine 2, which includes the release of Patch 7 in mid-April. Additionally, players can look forward to the introduction of a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons in the coming months. The developers tantalizingly hinted at undisclosed surprises that even dataminers haven't uncovered yet.

The announcement of Space Marine 3 is a signal of a new project's beginning, one that is years away from completion. The excitement from the community has been a significant motivator for the developers. "Many of you were very excited for this project and this makes us incredibly happy and motivated. Thank you for the unwavering support," the statement read.

The new class addition to Space Marine 2 has sparked much speculation among fans. Many believe it might be the Apothecary, akin to a medic in Space Marine terms, while others hope for the Librarian, which would introduce warp-powered abilities into the game. As for the new melee weapon, fans have expressed a desire for the iconic axe from Secret Level's Warhammer 40,000 animated episode, with some modders even preemptively adding it to the game.

The decision to move forward with Space Marine 3 aligns with the strong performance of Space Marine 2. In an interview with IGN shortly after Space Marine 2's launch, Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits hinted at potential story DLC and floated ideas for a sequel. He mentioned that game director Dmitry Grigorenko had proposed story ideas that could either expand into DLC or form the basis for Space Marine 3. Willits also teased the inclusion of different factions and chapters in future content, suggesting a rich and expansive future for the franchise.

This commitment to both ongoing support for Space Marine 2 and the development of Space Marine 3 underscores Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive's dedication to the Warhammer 40,000 community and their desire to continue delivering high-quality gaming experiences.