April 1st has come and gone, marking another year of playful pranks in the video game industry. Yet, the April Fool's gag from the developers of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one that might linger in players' memories a bit longer.
Just yesterday, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced a faux DLC featuring a new Chaplain class, supposedly set to release on April 1st. "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," Focus teased, likely with a chuckle behind their screens.
This 'DLC' was said to introduce 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 was equipped with a unique ability named Discipline, which would instantly report any deviations from the Codex Astartes, granting a 5% discipline bonus but at the cost of a -20% brotherhood bonus.
The humor in this jest stems from the in-game dynamics where Chaplain Quintus closely monitors protagonist Titus for any signs of heresy, despite Titus's unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. Throughout the campaign, as Titus combats the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons, it becomes evident that he possesses a unique trait, which Quintus views with suspicion. The Chaplain's role is akin to a strict school prefect, ever-vigilant for rule-breakers and quick to report them.
Within the Space Marine community, the Chaplain has become a meme, and this April Fool's Day prank plays right into that. Some fans have expressed a genuine desire for the Chaplain to be added to the game, perhaps as a warrior-priest dedicated to the Emperor's veneration, though not necessarily with the exact abilities from the prank.
"This would actually go hard if this was real," commented ResidentDrama9739 on the Space Marine subreddit, sparking enthusiastic discussions about potential gameplay features for the Chaplain.
Meanwhile, Space Marine 2 is indeed set to introduce a new class soon, though Focus and developer Saber Interactive have kept the details under wraps. Speculation leans towards the Apothecary, akin to a medic class, or the Librarian, known for their warp-powered abilities. The Chaplain's appearance in the April Fool's gag has fans wondering if it might foreshadow his inclusion.
Despite the unexpected announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2's year one roadmap continues with Patch 7 expected in mid-April. Players can look forward to the new class, additional PvE operations, and new melee weapons in the coming months.
