Few franchises in the gaming industry have a pull and loyalty of fans like that of the Warhammer 40k series. With its interesting lore, harsh universe, and dedicated fanbase, the pressure on any new installment in the series is unavoidable.
With the announcement of Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2, pressure on the developers is higher than ever. To meet the higher expectations from the beloved Space Marine’s sequel, Saber Interactive Studio extended the game development cycle as well.
The Weight of Expectation on Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2
The development team knew from the start that they would be under heavy pressure as fans of the Warhammer 40K franchise are vocal about their expectations. If the game has any issues or doesn’t give justice to the Warhammer 40k title, they will always voice their issues.
This awareness from the developers was weighing heavily on their minds. Space Marine is one of the most beloved titles in the series and they didn’t want to screw up on its sequel. To mitigate this, the developers even extended the development time.
In an interview, creative director Oliver Hollis-Leick discussed many details about the game and its development process. When asked about how the legacy of Space Marine has added pressure, he replied with:
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.
After announcing the delay, Studio was worried that the fans would be very angry with them. But after seeing the reaction of the fans and how they appreciated that they didn’t release the game in a broken state. While the developers are experiencing unexpected delays, fans are excited to see a final quality product, which is set to release on September 9th.
Why the Delay Became Inevitable for Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2
The decision to delay the development of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 was not just a simple decision but a necessary one to deliver the game every fan wanted. With this extra time, developers now would be able to iron out the kinks and ensure a polished final product.
It is a very difficult challenge to surpass the previous game and also to meet the fan’s expectations. They pursued this goal to make the game better and well-polished. But to meet the expectations, they had to delay the game.
Despite the pressure of facing fan backlash, the developers remained calm and showed commitment to delivering a game that would do justice to the Warhammer 40K universe. While the developers are having unexpected delays, fans are eagerly waiting to see a high-quality final product.
