The announcement of the development of Space Marine 3 sent ripples of excitement and concern through the Warhammer 40,000 community, particularly in light of the recent release of Space Marine 2. Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive made the surprise announcement in mid-March, just six months after Space Marine 2 hit the shelves, amidst ongoing discussions about the game's future content.

In a reassuring blog post, both companies addressed the community's concerns head-on, affirming their commitment to Space Marine 2. They emphasized that the development of Space Marine 3 does not signal the end of support for its predecessor. "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.

The companies outlined their ongoing support for Space Marine 2, which includes the release of Patch 7 in mid-April and a comprehensive year-one roadmap. Players can look forward to the introduction of a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons in the coming months. The statement tantalizingly hinted at "surprises even dataminers haven’t found out about," adding a layer of excitement for the game's future.

The development of Space Marine 3 is described as being in its early stages, a project that is years away from release. The announcement was met with enthusiasm from the community, which the developers acknowledged with gratitude, stating, "Many of you were very excited for this project and this makes us incredibly happy and motivated. Thank you for the unwavering support."

The big news for Space Marine 2 fans is the promise of a new class, speculated to be either the Apothecary, akin to a medic, or the Librarian, which could introduce warp-powered space magic into the gameplay. Additionally, a new melee weapon has sparked speculation, with fans expressing a desire for the iconic axe featured in Secret Level’s Warhammer 40,000 animated episode, a wish already brought to life by modders.

The success of Space Marine 2 laid the groundwork for Space Marine 3, with Saber Interactive Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits hinting at potential story DLC and sequel ideas in an interview with IGN following Space Marine 2's launch. Willits mentioned that game director Dmitry Grigorenko had proposed story ideas that could expand the universe with new factions and chapters, setting the stage for a compelling continuation of the Space Marine saga.