April 1 has come and gone, marking another year of playful pranks in the video game industry. Among these, the April Fool's gag from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 might linger in the minds of fans a bit longer than others.

On April 1, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced a new Chaplain class as DLC. "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," they declared, likely stifling laughter as they hit send.

This '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." Moreover, the Chaplain's special ability, Discipline, would instantly report any minor deviation from the Codex Astartes, granting a 5% discipline bonus, albeit at the cost of a 20% brotherhood penalty.

The humor here resonates because anyone who's played through Space Marine 2's campaign knows that Chaplain Quintus scrutinizes protagonist Titus for any hint of heresy, despite Titus's unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. Throughout the campaign, as Titus fights the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons, it becomes evident that there's something unique about him—a trait that Chaplain Quintus finds deeply unsettling. Quintus is like the overzealous school prefect, constantly on the lookout for rule-breaking behavior to report to higher authorities. In the Space Marine community, the Chaplain has become a meme, and this April Fool's joke cleverly plays into that.

Interestingly, some fans expressed genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game—not necessarily with the humorous skill set from the April Fool's gag, but as a dedicated warrior-priest who upholds the Emperor's veneration at all times. "This would actually go hard if this was real," enthused ResidentDrama9739 on the Space Marine subreddit, sparking lively discussions about how the Chaplain could be integrated into the game.

While Space Marine 2 isn't getting the Chaplain class, a new class is indeed on the way. Although Focus and developer Saber Interactive have kept details under wraps, speculation among fans leans towards the Apothecary—a class akin to a medic for Space Marines—or perhaps the powerful warp-wielding Librarian. The Chaplain's April Fool's spotlight may have ruled him out, but anticipation remains high for the new addition.

Despite the unexpected announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2 continues to evolve. Its year one roadmap is still in place, with Patch 7 scheduled for mid-April. In the coming months, players can look forward to the new class, additional PvE operations, and new melee weapons.

The world of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 remains vibrant and full of surprises, keeping fans engaged and eagerly awaiting what's next.