When was the Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 release date? Space Marine 2 is the critically-acclaimed sequel to the 2011 third-person shooter hack-n-slasher of the same name, only instead of the Orkz, it's the Tyranids who will be meeting the sharp end of a Chainsword's rotating blades.
Using a combination of trailers, press releases, and developer interviews, we have collated and refined this guide to provide you with a concentrated view of everything there's to know about best action-adventure games this year.
Space Marine 2 release date
The Space Marine 2 release date was Monday, September 9, 2024. It is available on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. Those who bought the Gold or Collector's Edition could play Space Marine 2 three days earlier.
This came after a significant delay was announced at the end of 2023, with the new date announced in a trailer that debuted at The Game Awards. Those who preordered the game received the Macragge's Chosen DLC, which includes the "Ultramarine Inspired skin set". This comprises a unique bolter skin, chainsword skin, and the "Crux Terminatus" pauldron.
Both the Gold and Collector's Edition versions came with Season access, while the Focus Entertainment store exclusive Collector's Edition also included an artbook and a Lieutenant Titus resin statue.
Initially slated for a winter 2023 release date, the announcement of the last Space Marine 2 delay came via the Focus Entertainment notes. Seeing the game pushed back into 2024 didn't surprise us, as we hadn't seen much gameplay.
Space Marine 2 trailers
World Premiere Reveal trailer
Focus Entertainment released several major Space Marine 2 trailers, the first being at The Game Awards 2021. It shows almost no gameplay but still gives watchers a good indication of what to expect.
Gameplay Reveal trailer
The second trailer, presented at The Game Awards 2022, gave fans their first true look at what Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 has to offer.
Skulls Showcase Gameplay trailer
A quick one-minute snippet, this Skulls Showcase Gameplay trailer gave us a quick peek look at Space Marine 2's hack-and-slash gameplay with some third-person shooting in between. At the end, there's even a look at the Collector's Edition featuring the Lieutenant Titus statue.
Extended Gameplay trailer
An in-depth dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, this trailer gave us the biggest look at the title's gameplay yet. From a mission's prelude to a bloodied battle where you use all the tools at your disposal, this would be enough to get any Space Marine excited if they weren't already.
Release Date Reveal trailer
Coming in at just over 30 seconds, this quick trailer briefly showed off a bit more gameplay ended with the long-awaited reveal of Space Marine 2's release date – September 9, 2024.
Co-op Campaign Reveal trailer
A year after the first gameplay reveal trailer, Summer Game Fest 2023 debuted our first look at Space Marine 2's co-op mode. The 90-second video flashes between weapons, ships, and the galactic war, alternating shots of gameplay and cinematics.
Continuing the theme of only releasing trailers during significant industry events, Focus Entertainment showed the fourth Space Marine 2 trailer at The Game Awards 2023. This time, we got a release window, which was cool, but no exact date.
Multiplayer Modes Reveal trailer
Those who love to play with friends will love everything that was revealed in Space Marine 2's Multiplayer Modes Reveal trailer. Alongside 3-player co-op, the two-minute trailer also gives us a look into the game's three 6v6 PvP modes – Annihilation, Sieze Ground, and Capture & Control.
Summer Game Fest trailer
Part of Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest, Space Marine 2 popped up once again to remind us of its epic campaign and excitingly violent gameplay. It was more or less a trailer for its June Gameplay Overview trailer, but it did the job nonetheless.
Gameplay Overview trailer
Featuring Creative Director Oliver Hollis-Leick, the Gameplay Overview trailer took us through a bit of everything of what Space Marine 2 has to offer. This covered the game's story, game modes, progression, and multiplayer modes.
Extended Multiplayer Gameplay trailer
In August 2024 we got an extensive look at Space Marine 2's multiplayer. Here we can initially see a trio of marines juggling the aggro of a Carnifex, before taking it down. However, it's not just big beasties we'll be fighting in isolated 3v1s, as we're also treated to a bloody blitzing of a horde of Tyranids. Alongside PvE, we also got to see more of SM2's capture the flag-based PvP mode.
Gamescome Opening Night Live trailer
Ahead of its release, the devs shared an accolades trailer showcasing some of the glowing responses to the game from media so far.
Space Marine 2 gameplay
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 plays similarly to its predecessor, meaning gameplay is a mixture of third-person shooter and hack-n-slash. Players take on the role of Lieutenant Titus of the Ultramarines 2nd Chapter, a genetically augmented transhuman soldier who fights for the Imperium of Man against its enemies, whether they be the mutant, the heretic, or, in this case, the alien.
Tyranids, an extragalactic race of insectoid aliens, are the main antagonistic faction. In many ways, similar to the Orks that players faced in the original Warhammer 40k Space Marine game, Tyranid battle tactics rely on superior numbers in close combat, and we can see that translated into gameplay.
To overcome the enemy, you use an arsenal fit only for a Space Marine. At range, you can use weapons like the Boltgun, which fires self-propelled .75-caliber bolts that explode on impact with their target. Other weapons include the Meltagun and Bolt Pistol.
When enemies get too close, it's time to switch to close combat, and Space Marine 2 has you covered with its selection of melee weapons, such as the Thunder Hammer, Power Sword, and the iconic Chain Sword, a blade with a chainsaw-like edge.
Space Marine 2 also has a co-op mode similar to that of Helldivers 2. Our news editor Lauren Bergin spoke with Space Marine 2 creative director Oliver Hollis-Leick about the new PvE operations mode, which s three players that can spec into one of six classes.
The actions of the players also tie into the main story, as Hollis-Leick explains, "They're handling objectives that contribute towards Titus' campaign, and you'll be able to communicate with them in real-time over Vox. So, you'll hear one conversation in the campaign with Titus, and then you'll get to play the other side of that radio conversation as those PvE Space Marines and see what hell was breaking loose in the background of that call. It's a nice way to have a very replayable system of gameplay, but to fill in more of the picture of this ongoing war."
Lauren also got to chat to Saber's CCO, Tim Willits, about the mode (and multiplayer more broadly) at Gamescom 2024 in August. When quizzed about the impact underperforming teammates have on the experience, Willits reassures us that you'll still be able to "kick ass" even if your squates aren't pulling their weight – something we've noticed while playing post-launch.
During our interview with Hollis-Leick, we also got an idea of just how much pressure is on the developers to get Space Marine 2 right. "The pressure has been non-stop. It's well known that we delayed the release of our game [to ensure it launches well]. We felt that it was critical to polish it and do as much as we can, under our control, to make it ready to rock from the moment people get their hands on it. I think that's mitigated a lot of the concern, and I was pleased to see fans react well to that – we were worried that they'd be very angry, but most people said 'thank you for not releasing a broken game."
Sylvain Le Roux, senior brand manager for Focus Entertainment added that "there's no bigger pressure than the pressure we put on ourselves." If you're worried about this new, improved gameplay running on your PC, you can check out the Space Marine 2 system requirements so you're adequately prepared.
Space Marine 2 story
Space Marine 2 during the 41st Millenium – the Era Indomitus, the Age of the Dark Imperium, more specifically. Lieutenant Titus, formerly Captain, has been demoted following the events of the first game, where he was taken into custody by Inquisitor Thrax under suspicion of being a heretic and conspiring with the forces of Chaos. However, after a century in imprisonment, Titus has now been freed and returned to his chapter by the Inquisition, pending his salvation.
The story takes place across two planets during the fourth Tyranid War and sees Titus becoming faster and more muscular after undergoing the Rubicon Primaris. This surgery enhances Space Marines, meaning he'll be quite the powerhouse. Alongside his new understudies, Brother Chairon and General Gadriel, the trio must initially safeguard a highly-classified project that has huge implications on the ongoing war.
If you can't wait to play Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2, check out our list of all the best Warhammer games you can play right now. Our friends at Wargamer have also got some handy information on the Space Marines and all the Warhammer 40k factions you can play as.