The announcement of Space Marine 3's development sent ripples of excitement and concern throughout the Warhammer 40,000 community, especially given its timing 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 discussions about the support and content updates for Space Marine 2.
In a detailed blog post, both companies sought to reassure fans about the future of Space Marine 2. They emphasized that the development of Space Marine 3 does not signal the end of support for Space Marine 2. "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 companies outlined their plans for Space Marine 2, which include sticking to the year one roadmap and releasing Patch 7 in mid-April. Fans can also look forward to a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons in the coming months. The statement teasingly added, "Trust us, there are surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about :)."
Space Marine 3, they noted, is in its very early stages and years away from release, marking the beginning of a new project that has already garnered significant excitement from the community.
The big reveal for Space Marine 2 is the addition of a new class, with speculation leaning towards it being an Apothecary, the closest thing to a medic class in the Space Marines universe. However, there's also hope that it could be a Librarian, bringing warp-powered space magic into the mix. As for the new melee weapon, fans are particularly excited about the possibility of seeing the axe featured in Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode, so much so that modders have already started creating their versions.
The go-ahead for Space Marine 3 aligns with the success of Space Marine 2. In an interview with IGN following Space Marine 2's launch, Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer, Tim Willits, hinted at the potential for story DLC and floated ideas for Space Marine 3. He mentioned that game director Dmitry Grigorenko had proposed story ideas that could serve either as DLC or a sequel, noting the vast array of factions and chapters that could be explored in future content.
This strategic move to develop Space Marine 3 while continuing to support Space Marine 2 showcases a commitment to the Warhammer 40,000 universe and its eager fanbase, promising a future filled with exciting content and new adventures.
