Space Marine 2 Devs' April Fool's Joke Sparks Fan Excitement

April 1st has come and gone, marking another year of video game industry pranks, but the one from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 may linger in fans' minds a bit longer. On April 1st, the game's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced a new Chaplain class as downloadable content (DLC). "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," Focus stated, clearly enjoying the jest.

This faux DLC supposedly introduced the Chaplain as a playable character in the story mode, complete with an 'Enhanced Dialogue System.' Every five minutes, the Chaplain would remind his comrades that "the Codex Astartes does not support this action," and "I’m telling the Inquisition." Additionally, the Chaplain's special ability, Discipline, would report "any and all minor deviations from the Codex Astartes for a 5% discipline bonus (but -20% brotherhood bonus)."

The humor of this April Fool's gag stems from the character dynamics in Space Marine 2's campaign. Chaplain Quintus scrutinizes protagonist Titus with a relentless suspicion for signs of heresy, despite Titus' unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. As Titus battles the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons, it becomes evident that there's something unique about him, which Quintus finds deeply unsettling. The Chaplain's role is akin to an overzealous school prefect, earning him a notorious reputation among fans and turning him into a meme within the Space Marine community.

The April Fool's joke capitalized on this meme status, yet some fans expressed genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game—not with the comedic skill set but as a formidable warrior-priest devoted to the Emperor. "This would actually go hard if this was real," noted ResidentDrama9739 on the Space Marine subreddit, sparking lively discussions about how the Chaplain could enhance the gameplay.

Interestingly, Space Marine 2 is slated to introduce a new class soon, although Focus and developer Saber Interactive have kept details under wraps. While many speculate it might be the Apothecary, akin to a medic class, there's hope it could be the Librarian, introducing warp-powered space magic. The Chaplain's prominent role in the April Fool's prank has led fans to wonder if it rules him out as a potential addition.

Despite the unexpected announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2 remains active with its year one roadmap. Patch 7 is scheduled for mid-April, and the game will soon see the new class, along with new PvE operations and melee weapons, promising an exciting future for its community.