After a praise-worthy launch, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 shows no signs of slowing down. The game already teased a new PvE Operation for October, and now players can get their first glimpse at what the Space Marines will be facing down on Kadaku: a fearsome Hierophant Bio Titan. But alongside a preview of the Ultramarine's next outing, Focus Entertainment and S??aber Interactive reaffirmed plans for the year ahead.

Space Marine 2 offers a cooperative PvE mode called Operations. Each Operation is like a campaign mission, but players level custom Space Marines and are encouraged to group up. The game launched with six Operations available, but Space Marine 2 laid out&nbs??p;respectable plans for live-service content updates over time. Now, with the first piece of new content on the horizon, players can get an idea about how they'll be serving the Empero??r over the next 12 months.

That Hierophant Bio Titan is one big bug

The Tyranids are already a terrifying adversary who can consume and reconstitute biomass to overcome any obstacles encountered. That biomass reconstitution can take any form the Xenos requires, including a massive monstrosity. Hierophant Bio Titans are literally enormous hazards on the battlefield, towering over other Tyranid bioforms and enemies alike. Often, a Hierophant Bio Titan will be used to draw an enemy's heavy fire or support while smaller Tyranid? bioforms break through enemy lines and wreak havoc.

In the Post Launch Overview shared by Focus Entertai?nment, the team said, "Gather your three-player squad and deploy back on Kadaku to face the? biggest and most terrifying Tyranid yet: the Hierophant Bio Titan." The clip then showed the massive scale of the enemy, looming over a clash between Tyranid and human forces. It also looks like the players' usual ??arsenal may not have cut it, as it appeared as though the shown Space Marine was damaging the creature with automated defenses of some kind.

Lethal difficulty, new weapons, and the year ahead

While the sneak peek at the new Operation is enough to get most Space Marines ready to don their power armor, Focus Entertainment had more to share. Space Marine 2 will soon receive a new ??Lethal difficulty, taking the optional challenge even higher than is currently possible. The team also promises a new weapon: the Neo-Volkite pistol. 

Looking beyond the immediate free content, Focus Entertainment reminded Season P??ass holders that they would receive a complete set of cosmetic options themed around the Dark Angels Chapter. This includes new weapon skins f?or the Auto Bolt Rifle, Plasma Pistol, and Power Sword, on top of a unique look for the Bulwark Class. It sounds like there will also be some options for Dark Angels' successor Chapters.

For 2025, the team doesn't have anything tangible to show, but it promises new PvE Operations, PvE Prestige Ranks, PvP modes and maps, Tyranid and Thousand Sons enemy types, weapons, cosmetic Space Marine Chapter options, and even a horde mode. The amount of substantial free content planned for Space Marine 2 is staggering, and Focus Entertainment promises to stay in touch with the community along?? the way.

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Saber Interactive has teased a first peek at what players can expect from future Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 content. The developer offered a look at an upcoming PvE Operation that is set to arrive sometime this October. While there wasn't a ton of information provided,?? we did get a screenshot of the locale and a briefing on where the mission would take players.

Though Space Marine 2 is primarily a single-player game, it offers a cooperative PvE mode called Operations beyond its campaign. It functions almost like a second campaign, following a squad of Space Marines working in tandem with Titus, Gadriel, and Chairon. Saber Interactive previously noted that it had plans to add Operations and additional content to Space Marine 2, and now we're seeing the first fruits of?? tha??t labor.

Back to Kadaku

In a Community Update posted on Steam, Saber Interactive noted that a new Operat??ion was due to arrive in October and that it would take place on the planet of Kadaku. The team also offered a fluffy mission briefing along with the shared screenshot.

"The Tyranid invasion of Kadaku is ending. The planet's organic material is being transformed into biomass, and Tyranid Capillary Towers stretch high into the skies above, where the Hive Ships wait to taste their victory. The Cadian forces have made a valiant attempt to push back against the Tyranids. A team of Space Marines arrives on Kadaku with a simple miss??ion: help the Cadians destroy the towers. The Tyranids may win the planet, but the Imperium will make it as painful as possible for them."

The Tyanid Capillary Towers in question are massive organic structure??s akin to straws. They allow the behemoth creatures that make up the Hive fleet to consume biomass collected during a Tyranid invasion and then reconstitute it into new bioforms or creatures as conflict dictates. Players' quest to destroy these Capillary Towers won't be like toppling a simple emplacement; it'll mean breaking the ??physical grasp Tyranids have on Kadaku and severely impacting the Xenos' ability to recuperate losses.

Through the current Operations on offer, player Space Marines put an end to the Tyranid threat on Avarax. It appears that this upcoming Operation will see the Astartes put the final nail in the coffin for the Xenos on the jungle world, too. Of course, there's always room for future Operations to expand players' reach beyond the three planets featured in the campaign, but Saber Interactive has remained tight-lipped on what that future content might entail.

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If you've already played through Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's campaign, you're likely starting to explore the cooperative PvE Operations mode. But how far can you t??ake a Space Marine in any given Class? What's the level cap for PvE Operations, ?and what do you get for reaching it?

Space Marine 2 features a cooperative multiplayer PvE mode called Operations. Like the campaign, players still set out on mission-based excursions to complete objectives or hunt down particularly dangerous Xenos or Heretic targets. After you've chosen an Astartes Class and played an Operation or two, you'll find yourself leveling up. The first few levels come quickly, but then each starts to require more and more time investment into the Class.

The Operations mode currently features four difficulty options, and higher tiers suggest Space Marines at higher levels. Operations completed at higher difficulties reward more experience and higher-tier weapon upgrade materials. If players want to conquer their foes on these higher difficultie?s, they'll need to level their Space Marine up and take full advantage of the valuable experience received.

Space Marine career development

The current level cap in Space Marine 2 is 25. Naturally, each level becomes more challenging to achieve than the las?t, so players will have to push into higher-difficulty Operations as they grow in strength progressively. Thankfully, the payouts are worth the extra effort, rewarding players with sizable XP gains and the opportunity for even more if they can manage to complete the Opera??tion without getting downed while carrying a hidden Gene Seed.

While Space Marine 2's developer, Saber Interactive, has confirmed more Operatio??ns and higher difficulty options are coming, there hasn't been any definitive word on whether that would also mean the level cap would be increased. For now, the 25 levels already provide enough of a journey to get through, especially if players want to max out mult??iple characters to experience the different Space Marine playstyles.

What does leveling do for you?

As players level up a Space Marine Class, they'll earn points to invest in a tiered skill tree. Some nodes contain powerful passive effects, while others strengthen abilities or gear players already possess. Each Class has access to a different skill tree, which complements the Class' abilities, gear, and gameplay. As players ?progress in level, they'll earn access t?o other options, mixing and matching active ones to best suit tastes.

These skills open up another layer of mastery for the Space Marine Class and add the extra oomph needed to tackle Operations at higher difficulties. That might come in the form of damage resistance when Armor is depleted for the Bulwark or just straight-up buffing primary weapon damage at the cost of secondary weapon power for the Tactical Class.

In addition? to the progressive power gain, players will also unlock access to different cosmetic armor options as they level. While these don't add any gameplay effects, it's hard to argue against decking yoursel?f in some rightly-earned armor before heading back to serve the Emperor in another Operation.

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The Adeptus Astartes of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 have an assortment of weapons to play with. However, in Space Marine 2's PvE Operations mode, players will need to upgrad?e their gear if they want to keep pace with tuned-??up difficulty options.

While higher difficulty settings offer more signi?ficant rewards, they also impose some of the most formidable challenges in the game. That said, the path toward improving weaponry isn't exactly straightforward.

Space Marine 2 offers cooperative PvE in the form of its Operations mode. It currently contains six difficulty-adjustable missions, with plans to add more. As players ramp up the difficulty, XP and the chance for better rewards increases, but ?it also means basic bolters and chainswords won't cut it.

Master your arsenal

The Armory is where the Ultramarines can tinker with their equipment between missions. A quick visit to the Armory allows players to access a menu where all available gear can be equipped, upgraded, and h??ave cosmetics applied. While players can unlock additional weapons as they level up, they can sta??rt upgrading the ones they already have right from the start.

The first thing players will need to do to upgrade the weapon of their choice is to use it. As players complete Operations and earn XP or Gene Seed, they'll also earn progress ??toward mastering the current iteration of their weapon. Once the gun or melee armament has been used enough, players will earn a Mastery Point to upgrade the weapon family ??further.

Don't forget the Armory Data

However, before that Mastery Point can be use??d, players will first need to upgrade the quality of their chosen weapon. This is done by expending the Armory Data required to unlock the next tier. The Data itself can be earned in each Operation, rewarded for finding hidden Servo Skulls within the PvE missions. 

There are three variations of Armory Data: Master Crafted (green), Artificer (purple), and Relic (yellow). The quality of Armory Data found depends on the difficulty of the Operation, ??so Relic upgrades will naturally only come from the highest tier of difficulty. In that same vein, as players upgrade a weapon family, it will ask for the corresponding quality Armory Data.

How to spend Mastery Points

Once players have earned Mastery Points and have unlocked the next tier of their weapon, they can spend the Points to improve how the weapon family performs. You can access the Perk Tree tab by viewing the weapon in the Armory, and that's where upgrades will be available. The number of available Perks coincides with the number of variants in the weapo??n family, so don't worry; extra work will be rewarded.

Pus?hing into Artificer and Relic tiers, players will need to master multiple variations of the weapon, with each successful variant bringing players closer toward overall mastery for the next weapon tier. These weapon variants can be changed at w??ill by visiting the Armory and switching via the Versions tab on the weapon.

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The fact that Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has turned out to be wildly successful doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, as it was pretty darned awesome. The bit t????hat might be surprising, instead, is that Saber Interactive may be working on even more content than we know of.

This information comes from an impromptu Q&A held by the game's creative director, Oliver Hollis-Leick, over on Twitter. According to him, there absolutely will be narrative additions to Space Marine 2, whereas up until now we only really knew about what was coming as part of the game's first year of post-launch content. Broadly, the season pass focuses exclusively on cosmetics, while the "Battle Plan" for year one also references free PvE additions via Operations, Horde Mode, and so on. No story content was mentioned there, making Holli??s-Lei??ck's commentary quite important in the grand scheme of things.

Creative Director suggests Space Marine 2 DLC is on the way, but there are restrictions in place on certain content

Now, to be perfectly fair, it's not impossible that Space Marine 2's Creative Director was simply referring to sprawling new Operations here. Since all the Operations actually take place in parallel with certain campaign missions, they obviously have narrative significance even if it doesn't seem that way at a glance. On the flip side, the campaign is done and dusted, which means new Operations are probably going to have to ??exist beyond the scope of the main sto?ry.

It's an interestin??????????????????????????g predicament, especially since Hollis-Leick doesn't outright deny the idea that all-new factions of combatants might make their way into the game down the line. So, an Ork-themed Operation is not out of the question at all, at least judging by the responses left by the creative director.

Fans of Chaos Astartes don't need to worry, either. When asked whether the forces of Chaos might receive some manner of customization in the future, Hollis-Leick said that "it's likely [Saber Interactive will] add it eventually." For those who haven't had the chance to step into the shoes of the Adversaries, Chaos Astartes cannot be customized in any meaningful way in Space Marine 2, even though they're a fully playable faction in the game's PvP mode. Obviously, this?? puts a dampener on things for fans of the faction, so it's good to see that Sabe?r is seemingly looking into upgrading the Chaos item roster down the line.

Hollis-Leick's commentary is very interesting from a lore point of view, too, as he's been freely responding to various questions from community members that help contextualize Space Marine 2's story. From a more practical point of view, though, the most interesting bit comes from the several comments that Hollis-Leick left wh???en asked about certain weapons, such as the Storm Bolter.

It would seem that the IP rights holder for Warhammer 40K, Games Workshop, is being very careful with Space Marine 2's handling of the license. For example, when asked about potentially including the Chapter Mater of Bl??ood Angels, Dante, would "need a big story involvement," said Hollis-Leick. "Each of these characters are very precious to GW and they require a plot weighty enough to allow us to use them. Not something we could drop in a DLC probably," he explained. Further, he also said that "We have a lot of IP restrictions on what [weapons] we can and can't use with different characters and armor types."

In summary, then, Saber Interactive won't be able to go mad and allow us to quad-wield Storm Bolters as a Scout Marine, sadly. More content is on the way, however, and if the base Space Marine 2 e??xperience is anything to go by, we've got lots to look forward to. Now, if only Saber could buff those bolters in Operations Mode by a sm?idge...

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The Space Marine 2 campaign takes players through various iconic Warhammer 40,000 locales, from Imperium temples to Adeptus Mechanicus facilities to treacherous jungles. However, one site may offer some hints as ??to ??where the game can go next.

Spoilers follow for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

We already know Space Marine 2 will continue to receive content through 2025, so could it be that future Operations ?and updates introduce the Necrons??

The Necrons are an ancient robotic civilization that quite literally conquered it?s own gods. The fearsome and advanced mechanical faction used to be organic but gave up their flesh and souls in the name of power. Millions of years ago, the Necrons began a long hibernation on their Tomb Worlds, waiting for the perfect moment to reemerge and take command of the galaxy. Unfortunately, there's a chance our actions in-game may lead to some of these god-slayers waking up.

Why would the Necrons wake up?

During the climax of Space Marine 2, it's exposed that your Adeptus Mechanicus ally, Leuze, was being manipulated by a Thousand Sons sorcerer to?? continue something called the Aurora project. As it turns out, Aurora is an Adeptus Mechanicus archeological site that unearthed a Necron Tomb World beneath the buria??l world of Demerium.

Leuze believes Aurora has the power to repel the forces of Chaos and close The Great Rift, but when activated, it appears as though the Thousand Sons are empowered. The Chaos Space Marines hail a Greater Daemon and start summoning their forces en masse. The thing is, Leuze's in??terpretation may not be so far from the truth.

While Space Marine 2 doesn't specify how Aurora works, Necrons have a history with a substance called Blackstone and structures called Blackstone Pylons. Blackstone itself has the ability to nullify? or amplify the Warp, and the Pylons are Necron Blackstone constructs that typically repel the Warp on a planet or region in space. It seems pretty likely that Leuze was tricked into deactivating or inverting the polarity of a Blackstone Pylon or similar device, allowing the Thousand Sons a chance for victory.

Of course, to correct this, we head back through the Tomb World, activating several sites that shoot a powering beam to a large central... pylon. With each activation, the relic we interact with changes from a Chaos-aligned color, like purple or orange, to the Necrons' signature hue of green. Maybe the Necron tech was asleep before or malfunctioning somehow; who knows? Now, however,?? it seems clear ??that we've reactivated it.

This background storytelling seems like the perfect setup for a Necron Dynasty to wake up and terrorize Demerium. Time will tell how Space Marine 2 is built upon, but at first sight of silver and green, start preparing for Ne?crons.

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The Warhammer 40,000 universe is dominated by war and strife, but it's not all calculated Ultramarine battle lines and space do??gfights. There ?is another much more primal force at work, tearing through systems and consuming worlds to sate a never-ending hunger: Tyranids.

The Tyranids may be the main enemy featured throughout Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, but the game only scratches the surface of the lore. The Tyranids are not an organized ??faction; it's a hive mind. That is to say, every individual form?? and creature that's classified as a Tyranid acts in unison as one organism.

Like the titular creature from the film Alien, Tyranids are the ultimate killing machine. The insectoid-like organisms have evolved into multiple forms and subspecies, and Tyranids still use rapid evolutio?n to counter threats in real-time. Alongside these adaptations and variations, a constant synaptic connection allows Tyranids to coordinate and employ tactics. This can mean sending a lone Genestealer to infiltrate and ready a world for invasion, using a Carnifex to dismantle defenses, or even evolving into living spacecraft to ferry the Tyranids across the stars.

Galaxy-spanning origins

Humanity encountered Tyranids relatively recently, but all indications point to the organisms being around for some time. Tyranids are not native to our galaxy and, as such, arrived at the edges of known space as early as the 3??5th millennium. What prompted the Tyranid's long, brutal journey from its home galaxy to ours is not fully understood. Still, some suspect the organism simply consumed everyth?ing in its home galaxy and needed to turn its attention elsewhere to survive.

The Imperium's first encounter with t??hese creatures was on the planet Tyran, which is where it earned the name "Tyranid." Once a thriving ocean world, Tyran was reduced to a barren rock within a year of its fall to Tyranids. ??This would become a staple of Tyranid attacks, as the swarm consumes every organic material on the planet until there's nothing but rocks and dust.

The Tyranid hunger is unending, spreading itself across the galaxy through several Hive fleets, all controlled by a single mind. Each fleet has everything it needs to continue to grow the Tyranid species, including plenty of drones and the ability to transform any raw?? digested biomass. Tyranids are almost completely indiscriminate in the biomaterial it consumes, meaning even dead Tyranids can be reconstituted. That biomass can be used to create new Tyranid forms, push mutations out to the swarm, or replenish any troops lost in battle.

Bioforms and adaptations

Part of what makes the Tyranids so fearsome ?is how they can adapt to remain the apex predator. The raw organic materials gained through planetary attacks help keep the never-ending flow of Tyranids coming, and it also allows the organisms to evolve new ways to overtake other life. Tyranids can repurpose the material they consume, so evolutionary traits, adaptations, and even memories are only a meal away. Of course, individual Tyranids don't have the autonomy to do this on their own. Biomaterials are digested and then returned to the Hive Ships, where they are reconstituted and then redeployed.

With the biomass to create what it needs and the insight gained by battling resistance, Tyranids have taken multiple shapes and sizes, each with its purpose. Take the lowly Rippers, slug or locust-like forms primarily responsible for?? devouring and returning biomaterial to the swarm. Rippers aren't a threat alone, but they travel in groups of hundreds or thousands, stripping any usable biomass in their path. More rank-and-file Tyranids are the Termagant and Hormagaunt, ranged beetle-shooting and melee ground troops, respectively. Even then, more exotic variants exist, such as the chameleon-like Lictor. Its purpose is to commit stealthy assassinations and devour brains for intel. 

In genuinely horrifying circumstances, the hive mind has been known to deploy a lone Broodlord, which sits in wait until it can infect an unsuspecting civilian with its genes. When they reproduce, they'll unknowingly start a new line of Tyranid gene-imbued hybrids that will eventually overthrow the civilization generations later with the undergr?ound formation of Genestealer Cults. This process produces an easier arrival of the hive fleet, where the infected populace will greet hungry visitors with open arms, seeing them as angels. Even if the Genestealer Cult takeover is unsuccessful, the Tyranid fleet will reach a substantially weakened world.

The Synapse

Coordinating the sheer size of the Tyranid species is no easy task, especially considering the distance between some Hive Fleets. To remed?y this, Tyranids employ a synaptic link where lesser Tyranid forms are connected to a commanding creature. This allows the commanding Tyranid to issue orders more directly or intentionally to a group and allows all of the species part of that specific link to act in sync. The synaptic ability ?of Tyranids has been viewed as a psychic power of sorts, but only the highest-ranking forms have any ability to bend the energies of the Warp.

Commonly, the synaptic?? link funnels from the hive mind to something known as a Hive Tyrant. These powerful Tyranid variations connect more closely to the hive mind than most. In this way, the hive mind can push distinct orders to its Hive Tyrants all over the galaxy, which can then direct all of the lesser Tyranids within its synaptic link. Hive Tyrants aren't the only Tyranids known to command the synaptic link of others, but they are the most ??common, and among the most feared foes the Tyranids can muster.

However, the synaptic link is as muc?h a weakness as a boon. If the Hive Tyrant, or whichever form controls the ?lower Tyranids' synaptic link, is killed, it will send the lower Tyranids into an uncoordinated frenzy. Sometimes, the psychic shock is even enough to destroy them outright.

The Tyranids represent a threat that the Imperium may have recognized too late: the devouring of the galaxy. With its ability to produce a never-ending conveyor belt of foot soldiers and cunning special??ists, innately communicate across the stars, and adapt to any problem by eating it, the Tyranids may be the most fearsome threat humanity has ever faced. It's likely that the species has already consumed at least one galaxy, and now that it's here, it shows no indications of slowing itself down.

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Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is right around the corner, promising beautifully grim landscapes, more than enough tyranids to slaughter, and guns. Lots of guns. Before you can get to slaughtering for the Emperor, however, you'll need to decide which edition of the game you want. Here's which Space Marine 2 edition you should buy, depending on you?r launch day plans.

What does each Space Marine 2 edition give?

Space Marine 2 sports four separate editions: Standard, Gold, Ultra, and Collector's. Each offers something more than the previous edition, increasing in cost as a consequenc?e. Here's what each edition brings to the table:

• Standard Edition - $59.99

  • Macragge's Chosen DLC (if preordered)
  • Base Game

• Gold Edition - $89.99

  • Both Standard Edition rewards
  • Up to four days of early access (if bought before September 9)
  • Season Pass
  • Gold Edition Steelbook (if purchased physically)

• Ultra Edition - $99.99

  • All above rewards (excluding Gold Edition Steelbook)
  • Ultramarines Champion Pack

You can also refer to the above image if something is confusing. Beyond that, there are a few things to clarify. Most notably, you might see we didn't list the Collector's Edition show?n in said above image. That's because the Collector's Edition is no longer available and likely won't be available again. You should also know that all three above editions are not available physically for PC, but the Standard and Gol??d physical editions are available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

As for which of these Space Hammer 2 editions you should snag, most of you will want the Standard Edition. Having the Season Pass and earl?y access are nice, but the former can be bought later, and the latter isn't something you'll think about in the long-term. Waiting four extra days to play the game isn't that big of a deal. You also don't know if you'll love the game yet, so dumping that extra money for both thi??ngs could end up feeling like a waste. As for the Ultra edition, it's a bit of extra money for a couple of skins. Maybe that's worth it for some people, but for most, it won't be.

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Denuvo DRM is one of the most infamous pieces of software in the modern gaming industry, for very good reason. Nowadays, almost every new release goes out of its way to clarify whether it's using Denuvo or not, and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is very pointedly saying "no".

Quite literally, though, that's what the developer Saber Interactive has to say on the matter: "no" to Denuvo DRM. Or to DRM of any sort, for that matter. According to a recent FAQ posted on the official Space Marine 2 website, the game will not rely on digital rights management for copy protection. The FAQ i??s a veritable treasure trove of valuable information, in fact, and anyone interested in the game ought to check it out i??????????????????????????n full, if you ask me. For those who just want a summary of the crucial bits, though, I've got you covered.

No DRM for Space Marine 2, but that's just the start

The fact that Space Marine 2 isn't going to rely on DRM to annoying paying customers is phenomenal news in and of itself, but there's more where that cam??e from. Loads ?more, in fact:

• Space Marine 2 does not have any microtransactions: "All gameplay content and features will be free to all players," says the FAQ. "Any paid DLCs will be cosmetic only."
• PvP Eternal War mode features dedicated servers in NA, Europe, LATAM, and SIE regions (!). No LAN, but that was to be expected.
• Space Marine 2's main narrative - 10-12 hours long in total - is fully canon to WH40K.
• The game will be available on GeForce Now from day one onwards, with fully functioning cross-platform saves and offline progression. Operations Mode needs online access to play, however.
• The game will not be available via Xbox Game Pass.
• No friendly fire in any game mode.
• DLSS2/FSR2 available on day one, DLSS3/FSR3 coming later on. No plans for raytracing.
• Steam Deck optimizations targeted for the end of 2024.
• Space Marine 2 relies on EAC for anti-cheat coverage.

Granted, some of these bits and pieces were either outright stated or hinted at in prior info-dro??ps, but it's still good to see Saber doubling down on some of them.

Really, the only problematic bit I've found about Space Marine 2 is somewhat arcane: the game will not support "wide screens" on launch day. This ostensibly refers to ultrawide and super-ultrawide monitors (21:9, 32:9) which I myself use, and it is a pretty big shame. Thing is, one of the Saber's previous games WWZ suffered from this problem on day one as well, and it was resolved some time after release via a dedicated patch. So, not a huge problem in and of itself.

In fact, the recently published post-launch content ro??admap clarifies that "wide screen" support will be coming in September. Aside from that, Warhammer 40K and Astartes fan?s, specifically, have got oodles of goodies to look forward to. Now, let's see if the game is any good in the first place,? right?

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In Warhammer 40,000, the Ultramarines are synonymous with the Space Marines. The blue-clad warriors are practically the poster children for the faction, often appearing as the defacto Legion whenever Space Marines are feature?d in video games or other visual media. But the Ultramarines are more than just generic Space Marine fodder. The L??egion has a rich history with a Greco-Roman flair and even has a still-living Primarch.

Space Marines, or Adeptus Astartes, are the genetically and surgically enhanced super soldiers of the Imperium of Man. Space Marines were originally categorized and separated by Legion, with each of the original 20 Legions led by a Primarch. Primarchs are "sons" of the Emperor of Mankind, genetically engineered to embody a specific aspect of the Emperor. Eventual??ly, during the 31st millennium, a schism emerged amongst the Primarchs, leading to a civil war between Leg?ions known as the Horus Heresy. In the aftermath of the conflict, a doctrine called the Codex Astartes was created, serving in some ways to police the Space Marine Legions and split them into smaller Chapters.

Ideology of Ultramarines

Ultramarines have a reputation for being strict adherents to rules and honor, with the Codex Astartes serving as their guiding light. The Ultra??marine Primarch, Roboute Guilliman, authored the doctrine himself, and its direction on organization and tactics helped all loyal Space Marine Legions navigate the chaotic period following the Horus Heresy. Though the Ultramarines have many successor Chapters, most still recognize and follow the Legion's ideologies. However, the Legion isn't just a collection of compassionless soldier-bureaucrats. Unlike many other still-loyal Space Marine Legions, Ultramarines regularly work and live alongside ordinary humans.

Guilliman was raised to respect and care for all of those around him, and that trait has largely extended throughout the rest of the Legion. Ultramarines regularly seek insight and collabora??tion with their lesser counterparts, whether supporting a battle-?locked group of Imperial Guard, sprinting back into the fray to save civilians, or even advancing out of service to become an Ultramar senator alongside human politicians.

While it's easy to imagine every Ultramarine as the same, that's not quite the case. After 10,000 years since Legions were first forced to splinter into Chapters, there are some notable differences between Ultramarine organizations and their interpretation of the Codex Astartes. Some of these Chapters even veer to the extreme. Take, for example, the Novamarines Chapter. Believing Guilliman's text in the Codex Astartes? to be sacred, they have been known to become violent if they witness other Space Marines stray too far from its teachings.

On the other hand, there are Chapters like the Iron Snakes, whose interpretation of justice and adherence to rules see prisoners tied to large rocks in the oceans of their planet, Itha?ka. There, giant sea serpents called Wyrms deal out sentencing. If the Wyrms don't claim the accused after six hours, they're an unworthy snack for the beasts and guilty of their crimes.

Protectors of Ultramar

The homeworld of the Ultramarines is Macragge, but that's just the crown jewel in the swathe of space they oversee, known as the 500 Worlds of Ultramar. Where other Space Marine Legions are content with their space-bound fortresses or isolated homeworlds, the Ultramarines want to build civilizations. Oth??er than the realm of Ultramar, only Sol ??(Earth) via the Imperium and Mars via the Adeptus Mechanicus are allowed to colonize worlds in the name of humanity, making the 500 Worlds something of an exception.

Not only are the Ultramarines and the 500 Worlds of Ultramar a beacon for humanity, but they're also involved in some of the most notable events in the Warhammer 40,000 timeline. During the Horus H??eresy, when the 500 Words were cut off from the rest of the Imperium by massive Warp storms, Guilliman founded Imperium Secundus, an acting form of governmental cohesion for Ultramar centered on Macgragge. Guilliman's idea in establishing Imperium Secundus was that the 500 Worlds and other loyal planets cut off from the Imperium still needed law and order, and he'd provide that until the Warp storms subsided. More recently, Ultramar was host to iconic conflicts and events like Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade and the Plague Wars.

Outside of just Macragge itself??, most of Ultramar's planets are self-sufficient, featuring sprawling cities, industrial zones, farm regions, and bodies of water. Many Ultramar worlds are modeled after Greco-Roman civilizations feat??uring senate halls and amphitheaters woven into the fabric of society. This is a far cry from what's seen with typical words within the Imerpium, often suffering from uncontrolled overpopulation or rampant environmental hazards, sometimes even to the knowledge or design of the ruler. For most other Space Marine Legions specifically, many prefer relative solitude or the stoic company that only their brother Space Marines can provide. 

Tactical generalists

While many Space Marine Legions are known for their specific quirk, like how the Space Wolves are essentially Space Marine werewolves, the Ultramarines don't really have one. These quirks are usually represented in how a Legion conducts itself in battle, with the aforementioned Space Wolves mounting giant wolves and fielding their Wulfen (werewolf) warriors. If anything, Ultramarines' quirk is that they're rule-abiding and love politics. As such, aside from doing things by the book, the Legion doesn't really have a flashy combat identity. ??Ultramarines are often depicted as generalists, not specializ?ing in one particular field but possessing the flexibility to adapt to any circumstance.

Though being a generalist isn't as flashy as being a sci-fi werewolf or a master of subterfuge, it d?oes have its advantages. Ultramarines reevaluate situations as they develop, allowing the Legion to fall back, flank, or hunker down as needed. Interestingly Ultramarines have the record to back this strategy up, bolstering some of the highest assignment success rates among Legions.

Ultramarines are ?typically equipp??ed with a bolt gun, as with many Space Marine legions, but they usually forgo the iconic chainsword for a short sword called a gladius. The gladius is a power weapon, trading the chainsaw teeth of a chainsword for a destructive energy field encasing the blade. Ultramarines can also use almost any other type of standard Space Marine gear, including plasma weaponry, jump packs, Dreadnoughts, and more.

Regardless of the perils involved, humanity can be sure that the Ultramarines will be on the front line of its defense. The Legion may appear just to be blue Space Marines, but they're among the most loyal and skilled ??warriors in the Imperium.

The post Warhammer 40K: Who are the Ultramarines? appeared first on Destructoid.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is on the horizon, finally bringing a sequel to the original 2011 game. Saber Interactive's third-person hack-and-slash title is a big one to look out for on the 2024 video game calendar.

Leading up to the game's launch, Saber Interactive has revealed a few different editions for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, as well as some pre-ord??er b??onuses for gamers who put their faith in the studio early.

All Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 editions

There are three editions of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 in total, with each one adding something new for those who choose to upgrade their experience?.

Standard Edition ($59.99)

• Base game

Gold Edition ($89.99)

• Base game
• Season pass

Ultra Edition ($99.99)

• Base game
• Season pass
• Ultramarines Champion Pack

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 pre-order bonuses

Gamers who preorder any edition of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will receive the Macragge's Chosen DLC pack, which includes an Ultramarines-inspired skin set for the Bolt Rifle, the Chainsword, and the Crux Terminatus Pauldr??on.

Those who upgrade and preorder either the Gold or Ultra editions of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will also receive four da??ys of early access, allowing players to hop into the action o?n September 5 ahead of the current September 9 release date.

Are the Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 Gold and Ultra editions worth buying?

To get either the Gold or Ultra editions, you're either spending $30 or $40 more than the base game. That's a sizable chunk ??of change, given most of the value comes from a season pass.

Although season passes are pretty standard practice nowadays, there's one issue with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: Saber Interactive hasn't actually told players what it will entail. So you're spending an extra $30, but you don't actually know what you're getting in return. It could be more Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 multiplayer and camp?aign content, or it simply could be more cosmetics.

It's safe to say that upgrading to either the Gold or Ultra editions is a risk at the moment. If you're confident you'll play a lot of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, we say go for it. But if you're more of a casual player, maybe hold off until we know what the seas?on pass entail??s.

The post All Wa??rhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 editions & pre??-order bonuses appeared first on Destructoid.

Saber Interactive's upcoming third-person hack-and-slash title, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, is just around the corner.

The studio has finally un?veiled the minimum and recommended PC system requirements for the game, t??elling players the specs they need to join in the fun.

Read on to discover more about the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 minimum and recommended PC system requirements for one of the most exciting releases in the 2024 video game calendar.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 minimum system requirements

According to Saber Interactive, these are the minimum system requirements you'll need to play Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's multiplayer and campaign on PC:

• OS: Windows 10 / 11 64-bit
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X / Intel Core i5-8600K
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• GPU/Graphics Card: 6 GB VRAM, AMD Radeon RX 580 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 75 GB available space, SSD required

The developer has confirmed that playing with the above minimum PC specs in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will give you 30 FPS in a 1920x1080 resolution, while using the game's "Low" graphics preset. Still, this should be more than achievable for most modern gaming syste??ms.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 recommended system requirements

Gamers wanting a little extra from their visuals in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will need to meet the r??ecommended system requirements. These are as follows:

• OS: Windows 10 / 11 64-bit
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X / Intel Core i7-12700
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• GPU/Graphics Card: 8 GB VRAM, AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 75 GB available space, SSD required

The above specs are what you'll need to handle Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 in 1920x1080 and reach 60 FPS ?in the "Ultra" graphics preset. This will p??rove to be the best experience the game has to offer.

With beefy GPUs like the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 s??een as recommended by the develo??per, it could be time to make that PC upgrade you've been stalling on.

The post Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC system requirements – minimum and recommended appeared first on Destructoid.

Saber Interactive's Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 looks like it might finally give you a chance to fulfill that fantasy of being a Space Marine on an alien world fighting against a Tyranid invasion. While it would be ama??z?ing to get to try the game ahead of its September release date, you shouldn't count on a beta.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has both cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes that will see?? players explo?re the full depth of a small part of this incredible universe. In co-op, players will work together to progress a set of campaign missions that are more brutal than anything they'll have seen before. Competitive multiplayer pits Space Marines against their sworn enemies, Chaos Space Marines, but it doesn't look like Saber Interactive will be testing its servers ahead of launch.

Will there be a Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 beta?

No, there won't be a beta for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Saber Interactive explained in a blog post that setting up a beta would take too much time?? awa??y from finishing the game ahead of its release on September 9, 2024.

Initially, there was meant to be a beta for the game, and there were even sign-up forms that many of us completed because we were so excited about playing early. Anyone who signed up for the beta before the end of June 28, 2024, will get a code for the exclusive Porphyr Shield Bolt Pistol before the game is released. This code can be claimed in-game and transforms the look of your Bolt Pistol into something incredib?ly regal and worthy of the Emperor of Mankind himself.

I think that Saber Interactive made the right call here. Putting out a beta of an almost finished game and making that the focus while there's still polishing and ??bug fixing to be done on the full release would be stretching the development team too thin.

While betas and demos are nice, especially for multiplayer games that you anticipate spending dozens of ho?urs in, they're far from essential. If the final product is flawed, it will be far more damaging than if players get to try out a limited but functionally fine beta.

Every trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has made the campaign against swarms of thousands of Tyranids look both inviting and terrifying. Hopefully, this move away f?rom a beta in favor of a more polished end product will pay off when we get our hands on it.

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