April 1st has come and gone, marking another year of playful pranks in the video game industry. However, the April Fool's Day gag from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 might just stick around in fans' memories a bit longer.
On April 1st, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced a new Chaplain class as DLC, claiming it would be available on that very day. "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," Focus stated, likely with a chuckle behind their screens.
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 threaten to report them to the Inquisition. Additionally, the Chaplain's special ability, Discipline, would instantly report any minor deviations from the Codex Astartes, granting a 5% discipline bonus but a -20% brotherhood bonus.
The humor in this prank stems from the campaign of Space Marine 2, where Chaplain Quintus scrutinizes protagonist Titus with a hawk-like suspicion for any signs of heresy, despite Titus's unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. As Titus fights against the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons, it becomes evident that there's something unique about him, which Quintus finds unsettling. The Chaplain's role is akin to an overzealous school prefect, always on the lookout for rule-breakers.
Within the Space Marine community, the Chaplain has become a meme, and this April Fool's joke cleverly plays into that. Some fans have expressed a genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game, not with the satirical abilities, but as a dedicated warrior-priest who upholds the Emperor's veneration.
"This would actually go hard if this was real," commented ResidentDrama9739 on the Space Marine subreddit, 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 have kept details under wraps. Speculation among fans leans towards the Apothecary, a class akin to a medic, or the Librarian, which would bring warp-powered space magic into play. The Chaplain's appearance in the April Fool's Day gag might suggest he's less likely to be the new class.
Despite the unexpected announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2's year one roadmap continues, 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 Space Marine 2 remains vibrant and full of anticipation, as fans eagerly await the next updates and expansions to this beloved game.
