April 1 has come and gone, marking another year without the video game industry's beloved April Fool's Day pranks. However, the playful jest from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one that fans are likely to remember for a while. On April 1, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced the release of a new Chaplain class as DLC, stating, “In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine.” The jest was met with sniggers, as the 'DLC' supposedly introduced the Chaplain as a playable character in the story mode, complete with an 'Enhanced Dialogue System.' This system would have the Chaplain remind his companions every five minutes that “the Codex Astartes does not support this action,” and “I’m telling the Inquisition.” The Chaplain's special ability, Discipline, would allow him to report any minor deviations from the Codex Astartes, offering a 5% discipline bonus at the cost of a 20% brotherhood penalty.

The humor in this April Fool's Day prank resonates deeply with players familiar with Space Marine 2’s campaign. Chaplain Quintus, ever watchful for signs of heresy, scrutinizes protagonist Titus with a hawk-like distrust despite Titus's unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. As Titus fights against the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons traitor legion, Quintus's constant vigilance and reporting of any perceived deviance draw comparisons to an overzealous school prefect. The Chaplain's strict adherence to the Codex Astartes has made him a meme within the Space Marine community, and this April Fool's gag cleverly plays into that reputation. Some fans have even expressed a genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game, not with the jokingly proposed abilities, but as a formidable warrior-priest devoted to the Emperor's veneration.

On the Space Marine subreddit, ResidentDrama9739 commented, “This would actually go hard if this was real,” sparking enthusiastic discussions about how the Chaplain could be integrated into the game. While Space Marine 2 is set to introduce a new class soon, details remain under wraps. Speculation leans towards the Apothecary, akin to a medic class, or the Librarian, which would introduce warp-powered space magic. The Chaplain's prominent role in the April Fool's Day prank leaves fans wondering if it rules him out as a potential new class.

Despite the surprising news that development for Space Marine 3 has begun, Space Marine 2's roadmap for the first year continues, with Patch 7 scheduled for mid-April. In the coming months, players can look forward to the new class, additional PvE operations, and new melee weapons, keeping the game fresh and exciting.