Delayed Space Marines 2 is “The Smartest Things We Have Doed” – Saber reflects on the 40,000 biggest Warhammer games ever seen in DLC a year later and looks to the future
Blog Andrew Joseph 30 Aug , 2025 0
Warhammer 40,000: Space Navy 2 It was a breakthrough blow for developer Saber Interactive, selling more than 7 million copies in less than a year. As the game approaches its first anniversary and with the expected patch 10 approaching, development director Tim Willits will be happy.
Willett told me in an interview with Gamescom 2025: “It does not do any streaming services.
But Space Navy 2 does not guarantee success. No video games. Actually, things look solid when Saber and Publisher Focus Entertainment A major delay in the game was announcedfrom 2023 to the second half of 2024.
Willett said it was Saber's “cleverest” move ever – you can see why. Space Marine 2 is easily the largest Warhammer 40,000 video games ever, which impressed the famous Grimdark tabletop games and newcomers. Follow a huge number of players and record sales. As Willits told me last year, Space Marine 2 changed everything about Saber, and soon announced the inevitable Space Marine 3. The second year of Space Marine Corps 2 is also underway.
“With Space Navy 2, if you remember, we actually put it off,” Willett said. “It's worth it! That's the smartest thing we've ever done.”
In his first year of reflecting on Space Marine 2, Willits admitted that releasing enough free DLC and Premium was an ongoing challenge to satisfy fans who were always eager to get more content. He pointed to the free tribal model, known as Siege, as a special high in the first year of Space Marine Corps 2. “Can you name the giant AAA game that releases free mode within a few months of the game?” Willett wondered. “The team is passionate about it. They are super space ocean nerds and their fans have a top appetite for it.”
Willett said Saber developed his impressive zombie technology into ZZ before the game and applied it to Space Marine 2's Tyranids, and he was ready to provide the DLC sent out after the DLC. “We learned a lesson in World Wars. So when World Wars Z came out, we weren't ready to be honest. We were like, 'Oh my goodness, it was successful. Go!' So we've been ready for a year and we know because we know.
Space Marine 2 is definitely for a lot of DLC in the second year, but will it expand the story? Or fans must wait Space Navy 3 Come out and find out what happens next to Titus and friends? Willits teased: “I mean we have some plans, but we have to work with the focus to get the right announcement.” “There is nothing on the table.”
Space Marine 2's success has even positively impacted the development of other Saber games and has given the company confidence to delay again knowing how beneficial it will be in the long run. John Carpenter's Toxic CommandoFor example, this year and early 2026 were postponed to early 2026, which is very quiet about it.
“Space Navy 2 was so successful for us that we wanted to make sure we didn't rush out of the toxic commando immediately after that,” he explained. “And we wanted to make sure the team had the resources, the time and the tests. We've done several beta tests and we have normal people playing it. We've registered a few weeks ago.
“It's one of the great things about Saber. We manage our business well, we don't go beyond the scope, design and permeate our team or our projects, and then make us like, 'Hey, do you know what? Let's actually spend more time on toxicity. The Space Marines did a great job and what we would do for it. People love it. People.
“Because gamers are smart. They always know when to rush or love the game, ‘If you spend a lot of time, you’ll do better.’ So, because of how we make the game and how we work, we’re in a position that gives us the flexibility and freedom to make sure the game is as good as possible, so yes, the Space Marines in the past would have been a little longer.
Although Warhammer 40,000 performed well at the game workshops before Space Marines 2 was released, the video game certainly took the setup to another level. Games Workshop recently announced the first officially licensed wearable space sea helmet ever – it is Lieutenant Titus of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.
Surprisingly, Willett knew nothing about it when I mentioned it. “That's so cool. I don't know!” he said. “And I usually buy all of these things.”
Wesley is IGN's news director. Find him on Twitter via @wyp100. You can reach Wesley via [email protected] or secretly visit [email protected].