Space Marine 2: How a Delay Forged the Biggest Warhammer 40K Hit

When Saber Interactive announced the delay of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, many feared it might doom the project. Instead, the extra time turned out to be the best decision the studio ever made.

A year after release, the game has sold more than seven million copies, earned critical acclaim, and secured its place as the most successful Warhammer 40k game of all time.

Development chief Tim Willits reflected on the gamble during gamescom 2025, describing the decision to delay as the ‘smartest thing we ever did.’ The extra polish not only gave players a smoother launch but also gave Saber the confidence to manage future projects like John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando with the same patience-first approach.

Space Marine 2 has thrived thanks to a steady stream of updates and DLC, ranging from premium story-driven content to fan-favorite free additions like the horde-mode Siege. The studio had learned hard lessons from World War Z, where post-launch content was rushed. This time, Saber had new content in production well before release, ensuring a constant flow to meet the community’s appetite. ‘Feeding the machine is hard,’ Willits admitted, but the team’s passion for the universe continues to shine through.

While many fans crave a full story expansion, Saber remains coy about what’s next for Titus and his squad. Willits teased that ‘nothing is off the table,’ hinting that major narrative content could arrive before the inevitable Space Marine 3.

The success of Space Marine 2 has also bolstered Games Workshop’s brand beyond gaming. The recent reveal of an officially licensed wearable Space Marine helmet modeled after Lieutenant Titus is just one example of how the game has reinvigorated the franchise in popular culture. Even Willits himself was surprised by that one, laughing that he usually buys all the merchandise but hadn’t heard of it until the announcement.

For now, Saber is focused on keeping Space Marine 2 alive with a second year of content while carefully preparing its future titles. The message is clear: patience, restraint, and respect for the fans have turned Space Marine 2 into a landmark success story.