Area Marine 2 presents only a slice of the Warhammer 40,000 setting, presenting the Ultramarines chapter of Area Marines in opposition to two enemy factions: the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons traitor legion. This, its developer has mentioned, has led to some “assumptions” concerning the Warhammer 40,000 universe which are unfaithful — assumptions which have develop into widespread on account of the sport’s large success.
Talking to IGN at gamescom 2025, Tim Willits, growth chief at Saber Interactive, mentioned Area Marine 2’s reputation had opened the door to the grimdark Warhammer 40,000 setting for a military of latest followers who aren’t essentially clued up concerning the intricacies of the universe.
“I heard that plenty of folks now assume that Thousand Sons are the one Chaos faction as a result of that is what we had within the recreation,” Willits mentioned, reflecting on Area Marine 2’s first 12 months.
“And so persons are like, ‘Oh, I assume Thousand Sons, they’re Chaos.’ It is like, ‘Really no it isn’t.’ They’re really only a small faction. However persons are similar to, ‘That is the one I performed in opposition to.’”
Certainly, there’s a lengthy checklist of Chaos factions inside the setting. If there’s an antagonist of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, it’s most likely Abaddon the Despoiler’s Black Legion, who don’t function in Area Marine 2. Different traitor legions embody the Dying Guard, the Emperor’s Youngsters, Iron Warriors, Evening Lords, World Eaters, Phrase Bearers, and the Alpha Legion. However then there are Chaos-aligned renegade Area Marine chapters, warbands, and smaller teams to cope with. Sure, it is loads!
This assumption about Chaos extends to the Area Marines themselves. The Ultramaines — thought-about the poster boys of the Warhammer 40,000 setting and the chapter utilized by Video games Workshop itself when introducing newcomers to the tabletop by way of starter units — are the protagonists of the Area Marine 2 marketing campaign, though many different factions can be found to play as within the PvE and PvP modes.
“Individuals have assumptions concerning the Warhammer 40,000 universe that aren’t right,” Willits continued. “Like Thousand Sons being the one Chaos faction. That’s type of humorous. And like, ‘Oh Area Marines are solely blue!’ That has been fairly humorous to be trustworthy, which is sweet for us.”
Certainly it’s good for Saber Interactive, which has seen the star of Area Marine 2, Lieutenant Titus, not solely develop into an official a part of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop recreation by way of his personal mannequin and datasheet, however immortalized by way of a star flip within the very good Warhammer 40,000 episode of Amazon’s Secret Stage animated anthology.
Video games Workshop has benefited drastically from Area Marine 2’s success as nicely, and never simply by way of licensing income. Anecdotally, employees on the firm’s shops report a flood of newcomers who cite Area Marine 2 as their entry level. Clearly hoping to capitalize on the curiosity, Video games Workshop lately introduced the primary ever formally licensed wearable Area Marine helmet — styled after Lieutenant Titus from Warhammer 40,000: Area Marine 2 after all.
One of many large questions going into the already confirmed Area Marine 3 is whether or not Saber will enterprise past the Ultramarines and the Thousand Sons by way of the subsequent marketing campaign. The story appears to arrange the addition of the Necrons, which at this level most likely would not come as a lot of a shock for Area Marine 3. However may different Area Marine chapters additionally seem? Maybe different Chaos factions, too? We requested Willits about Area Marine 3, however he remained tight-lipped.
Take a look at extra from IGN’s gamescom interview with Tim Willits to search out out why delaying Area Marine 2 was the most effective factor Saber ever did.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].