"Space Marine 2 Devs' April Fool's Joke Sparks Fan Excitement"

April 1st has come and gone, marking another year of playful pranks in the video game industry. Yet, the April Fool's Day gag from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one that might linger in fans' memories for a while longer.

On April 1st, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced a new Chaplain class as DLC, supposedly available for release on that very day. "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," Focus declared, 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's special ability, Discipline, would allow him to report any minor deviations from the Codex Astartes, granting a 5% discipline bonus but at the cost of a 20% brotherhood penalty.

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. Throughout the game, as Titus fights against the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons, it becomes evident that there's something unique about him, which Chaplain Quintus finds unsettling. Quintus is akin to an overzealous school prefect, always on the lookout for rule-breakers to report to the authorities, making him a figure of disdain among players.

The Chaplain has become a meme within the Space Marine community, and this April Fool's Day joke cleverly plays into that. Some fans have expressed a genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game, not necessarily with the humorous skill set from the prank, 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 has led some to wonder if it rules him out as a future addition.

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

As the Space Marine series evolves, fans eagerly await what new content and challenges will be introduced, keeping the community engaged and excited for what's next in the grim darkness of the far future.