The Warhammer 40,000 community was rocked by the unexpected announcement of the development of *Space Marine 3*, just six months after the release of *Space Marine 2*. The news, shared by publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive in mid-March, raised concerns about the ongoing support for *Space Marine 2* amidst questions about the game's content and player retention.

In a recent blog post, both companies addressed these concerns head-on, reassuring 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 that the game will continue to receive new content.

The roadmap for *Space Marine 2* remains intact, with Patch 7 scheduled for release in mid-April. In the coming months, players can look forward to exciting additions including a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons. The developers teased, "Trust us, there are surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about :)." This announcement signals the beginning of *Space Marine 3*'s development, a project that is years away from release.

The big reveal for *Space Marine 2* is the introduction of a new class, speculated to be the Apothecary, akin to a medic class in Space Marines, or possibly the Librarian, introducing warp-powered abilities. Fans are also buzzing about the potential addition of a new melee weapon, with many hoping to see the iconic axe from Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode included in the game, a feature that modders have already begun to implement themselves.

The green light for *Space Marine 3* follows the success of *Space Marine 2*. In an interview with IGN 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 be developed into either DLC or a sequel, suggesting a continuation of the narrative and the introduction of new factions and chapters.