April 1st has come and gone, marking another year of playful pranks in the video game industry. However, the April Fool's gag from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 might stick around in fans' memories for a bit longer.
On April 1st, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced a new Chaplain class as a supposedly upcoming DLC. They humorously stated, "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," likely chuckling at their own cleverness.
This faux DLC was said to introduce the Chaplain as a playable character in the story mode, along with an 'Enhanced Dialogue System.' Every five minutes, the Chaplain would remind others that "the Codex Astartes does not support this action," and threaten to report them to the Inquisition.
The Chaplain also came with a special ability called Discipline, which would report any deviations from the Codex Astartes, granting a 5% discipline bonus at the cost of a 20% brotherhood penalty.
The humor in this April Fool's prank stems from the fact that in Space Marine 2's campaign, Chaplain Quintus constantly scrutinizes protagonist Titus for any signs of heresy, despite Titus's unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. Throughout the game, as Titus fights against the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons, it becomes evident that there's something unique about him, which Chaplain Quintus distrusts intensely. Quintus is akin to a strict school prefect, always on the lookout for the slightest deviation from the rules, ready to report any misbehavior.
Within the Space Marine community, the Chaplain has become a meme, and this April Fool's gag played right into that. Some fans expressed genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game, albeit not with the exact satirical abilities, but as a warrior-priest devoted to the Emperor.
ResidentDrama9739 posted on the Space Marine subreddit, saying, "This would actually go hard if this was real," sparking enthusiastic discussions about how the Chaplain could be integrated into the game.
Interestingly, Space Marine 2 is set to introduce a new class soon, though Focus and developer Saber Interactive haven't revealed what it will be. Speculation leans towards an Apothecary, akin to a medic class, or possibly a Librarian with warp-powered abilities. The Chaplain's prominent role in the April Fool's Day joke might diminish the chances of his actual inclusion.
Despite the unexpected announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2's year one roadmap remains on track, with Patch 7 scheduled for mid-April. The game will also see the new class addition, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons in the coming months.
Which Warhammer 40,000 Enemy Faction Would You Like to See in Space Marine 3?
- Necrons
- Another Traitor Legion (tell us which one in the comments!)
- Drukhari
- Genestealer Cults
- T’au Empire
- Aeldari
- Something else entirely (let us know in the comments!)
