The announcement of the development of *Space Marine 3* sent shockwaves through the Warhammer 40,000 community, stirring both excitement and concern about the future of *Space Marine 2*. Just six months after the release of *Space Marine 2*, publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive revealed their plans for the third installment in mid-March, amidst ongoing discussions about the content support for the current game.
In response to these concerns, both companies released a new blog post to reassure fans. They emphasized their commitment to continue supporting *Space Marine 2*, alongside the exciting news about upcoming content. The statement clarified, "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. 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 roadmap for *Space Marine 2* includes the release of Patch 7 in mid-April, followed by the introduction of 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 :)." This announcement of *Space Marine 3* marks the beginning of a new project that is years away from release, and the team expressed gratitude for the community's support and excitement for the new project.
The big reveal for *Space Marine 2* is the introduction of a new class, with speculation among fans pointing towards the Apothecary, akin to a medic class in Space Marines, or the Librarian, known for their warp-powered space magic. Additionally, fans are eager to see a new melee weapon, with many hoping for the iconic axe featured in Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode, which modders have already brought into the game.
The decision to move forward with *Space Marine 3* comes on the heels of *Space Marine 2*'s success. In an interview with IGN following the launch of *Space Marine 2*, 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, "Our game director Dmitry Grigorenko, he has proposed some story ideas that could either be DLC or a sequel. Yes, yes, yes! There's so many different factions... there are other chapters, too, that are interesting..." This suggests a strong narrative continuation, with IGN reporting on the likely enemy faction to appear in *Space Marine 3*.
