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 is one that fans might remember for a while longer. Yesterday, Focus Entertainment, the publisher of Space Marine 2, announced a new Chaplain class as an April Fool's Day DLC, set to be released on April 1.
"In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," Focus Entertainment cheekily stated. 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 humorously threaten to report them to the Inquisition.
Adding to the jest, the Chaplain was given a special ability called Discipline. This ability would instantly report any minor deviations from the Codex Astartes, granting a 5% discipline bonus at the cost of a 20% brotherhood penalty. The humor in this gag stems from Chaplain Quintus's role in the Space Marine 2 campaign, where he scrutinizes protagonist Titus with a suspicious eye, ever vigilant for signs of heresy despite Titus's unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor.
Throughout the campaign, as Titus fights against the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons traitor legion, it becomes evident that there's something unique about him, which Chaplain Quintus does not appreciate. He's likened to an overzealous school prefect, always on the lookout for rule-breakers, much to the annoyance of players. The Chaplain has become a meme within the Space Marine community, and this April Fool's joke cleverly taps into that sentiment. Some fans have expressed a genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game, not necessarily with this humorous skill set but as a devoted warrior-priest who upholds the Emperor's veneration at all times.
"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. Meanwhile, Space Marine 2 is set to receive a new class soon, though Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive have kept details under wraps. Speculation among fans points towards the Apothecary, akin to a medic class for Space Marines, or the Librarian, which would bring warp-powered space magic into the mix. The Chaplain's appearance in the April Fool's gag might rule him out, but fans remain hopeful.
Despite the announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2 continues to evolve. The game's year one roadmap persists, with Patch 7 expected in mid-April. In the coming months, players can look forward to the new class, additional PvE operations, and new melee weapons.
