The Warhammer 40,000 community was rocked by the surprise announcement in mid-March that development on Space Marine 3 had begun, just six months after the release of Space Marine 2. This news sparked concerns among fans about the future support for the second installment. Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive quickly addressed these worries in a new blog post, reassuring players that Space Marine 2 would continue to receive significant updates and content.
In their statement, the companies expressed excitement about the community's enthusiasm for Space Marine 3, while acknowledging the fears regarding Space Marine 2's development. "Mid-March, we announced that Space Marine 3 had begun development and we’re excited to see your enthusiasm, although we hear those of you who fear for Space Marine 2 and its future support," they stated. They emphasized that the development of Space Marine 3 does not mean the end of Space Marine 2's lifecycle, with no team shifts or abandonment planned. "So let us set the record straight: 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 companies detailed their ongoing commitment to Space Marine 2, which includes adhering to the game's year one roadmap and the release of Patch 7 in mid-April. Furthermore, exciting new content is on the horizon, including a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons. "Trust us, there are surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about :)" they teased, hinting at more undisclosed features.
Space Marine 3, described as being years away from release, marks the start of a new project that has already garnered significant excitement from fans. "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, while reassuring players that Space Marine 2 still has much to offer.
The major announcement for Space Marine 2 includes the introduction of a new class, speculated to be either an Apothecary, akin to a medic, or a Librarian, which would bring warp-powered space magic to the game. Additionally, fans are eager about the new melee weapon, with many hoping to see the iconic axe featured in Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode incorporated into the game, a desire already fulfilled by modders.
The green light for Space Marine 3 was anticipated given the success of Space Marine 2. In an interview with IGN following the launch of Space Marine 2, Saber Interactive 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 as either DLC or a sequel. "Yes, yes, yes! There's so many different factions... there are other chapters, too, that are interesting..." Willits enthused, suggesting a rich future for the series.
