The Warhammer 40,000 community was rocked by the surprise announcement that development of Space Marine 3 had begun, just six months after the release of Space Marine 2. This news, announced by publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive in mid-March, sparked concerns about the future support for Space Marine 2 and its ongoing content updates.
Addressing these concerns in a recent blog post, both companies reassured fans that Space Marine 3's development does not signal the end of support for Space Marine 2. "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," the statement read. They emphasized that no teams are shifting focus from Space Marine 2, and they remain committed to delivering more exciting content for the game.
Space Marine 2's year one roadmap is still in place, with Patch 7 scheduled for release in mid-April. Fans can look forward to a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons in the coming months. The developers teased, "Trust us, there are surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about :)." They also clarified that the announcement of Space Marine 3 is merely the start of a new project, years away from release, and expressed gratitude for the community's support and excitement.
The big reveal from the blog post is the introduction of a new class to Space Marine 2, with speculation rife among fans. Many believe it could be the Apothecary, akin to a medic class, while others hope for the Librarian, which would bring warp-powered space magic into play. Additionally, the new melee weapon has fans buzzing, with many expressing a desire to see the iconic axe from Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode included in the game, a wish that modders have already begun to fulfill.
The decision to move forward with Space Marine 3 comes on the heels of Space Marine 2's successful launch. In an interview with IGN, Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits hinted at the potential for story DLC and shared that ideas for Space Marine 3 were already in discussion. He mentioned that game director Dmitry Grigorenko had proposed story ideas that could serve as either DLC or a sequel, suggesting a continuation of the narrative and the introduction of new enemy factions, as reported by IGN.
