The surprise announcement of the development of Space Marine 3 sent ripples of excitement and concern through the Warhammer 40,000 community, particularly regarding the future of Space Marine 2. Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive made this announcement in mid-March, just six months after the release of Space Marine 2, amid existing concerns about the game's content and player retention.
In a recent blog post, both companies addressed these concerns head-on, assuring fans that Space Marine 2 would continue to receive support. They promised to stick to the year one roadmap and confirmed that Patch 7 would be released in mid-April. Moreover, they teased exciting new content, including a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons. The statement playfully hinted at "surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about :)" to keep the anticipation high.
The announcement of Space Marine 3 was framed as the beginning of a new project, still years away from release. The companies expressed their gratitude for the community's excitement and reiterated their commitment to 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 big reveal for Space Marine 2 is the introduction of a new class, speculated by fans to be either the Apothecary, akin to a medic class, or the Librarian, offering warp-powered space magic. Additionally, the community is buzzing about the new melee weapon, with many hoping to see the iconic axe from Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode included in the game.
The decision to greenlight Space Marine 3 comes as no surprise given the success of Space Marine 2. In an interview with IGN shortly after Space Marine 2's launch, Saber Interactive Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits hinted at the possibility of story DLC and mentioned early ideas for Space Marine 3. He noted that game director Dmitry Grigorenko had proposed story ideas that could serve as either DLC or a sequel, teasing the inclusion of different factions and chapters in future content.
This strategic approach by Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive not only keeps the current player base engaged with Space Marine 2 but also builds anticipation for Space Marine 3, ensuring a vibrant future for the franchise in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
