The announcement of Space Marine 3's development sent ripples of excitement and concern throughout the Warhammer 40,000 community, particularly given its timing just six months after Space Marine 2's release. Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive made this announcement in mid-March, amidst ongoing discussions about the future content for Space Marine 2.
In a reassuring blog post, both companies addressed the community's concerns head-on. They emphasized their commitment to continue supporting Space Marine 2, dispelling fears that resources would be diverted to the new project. "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.
Space Marine 2's year one roadmap is still on track, with Patch 7 scheduled for release in mid-April. Excitingly, the game will also receive 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 :)."
Space Marine 3 is described as a new project, years away from release, and the announcement marks the beginning of its development process. The enthusiasm from the community has been a significant motivator for the team. "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 expressed.
The highlight of the new content for Space Marine 2 is the introduction of a new class, with speculation among fans leaning towards the Apothecary, akin to a medic class for Space Marines, or the more thrilling possibility of a Librarian, bringing warp-powered space magic into play. Additionally, fans are eager about the new melee weapon, with many hoping for the iconic axe featured in Secret Level's Warhammer 40,000 animated episode, which modders have already incorporated into the game.
The decision to move forward with Space Marine 3 was influenced by 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 shared that ideas for Space Marine 3 were already in discussion. "Our game director Dmitry Grigorenko, he has proposed some story ideas that could either be DLC or a sequel," Willits mentioned, suggesting a rich future for the franchise with various factions and chapters to explore.
