Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine demo coming August 23

By Jeffrey Van Camp August 16, 2011

Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of our favorite games of E3 will soon be playable by you. THQ has announced that a two-level Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine demo will be released for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC on August 23, followed by a PS3 demo on August 24. Those who have already preordered the game on Steam will get the demo on August 18, a few days early. The Steam promotion will correspond to a game discount on the service. Finally, those in the Space Marine ‘Honour Guard’ community will get the demo a day early, on August 22.

“The Space Marine demo features two very different areas of the game,” writes THQ. “The first pits the player against an Ork horde outside the gates of a munitions factory. Armed with six devastating weapons, including the iconic bolter and lethal chainsword, the player will get to experience Space Marine’s seamless mix of melee and ranged combat first hand as they take on the rampaging invaders. The second area gives players a taste of the exhilarating Jump Pack sequences where the game’s hero—Captain Titus—takes to the skies to rain death from above.”

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Our impressions of the game at E3 were overwhelmingly positive. It’s a game that grows on you, borrowing a bit from the Gears of War series (which, we’ve learned, borrowed from Warhammer first), but adds more melee and moves at a faster pace. Check out our impressions of the game to learn more. The E3 trailer is also worth a gander, if you’re interested.

Space Marine hits digital and retail shelves on Sept. 6.

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Jeffrey Van Camp

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…

Gaming

How long does it take to beat the campaign in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

A space marine stands tall in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 takes place in a dark future where there is unending strife. As Lieutenant Titus of the Ultramarines, you are the tip of the spear, part of the vanguard that rushes onward to defend the Imperium of Man from insidious threats. Still, you might be wondering just how long it takes to beat the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 campaign. Well, we've got you covered.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: How long is it?
For those who will be focusing on the campaign, it should take roughly 10 to 12 hours to beat Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Although the story is linear and general exploration is nearly nonexistent, the missions themselves are expansive, and some of them take over an hour to complete. Likewise, there are numerous cutscenes and moments in between missions where Titus has a chat with other battle brothers.

In any case, here's the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 mission list:

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Space Marine 2 preload guide: release time, file size, and preorder

Titus fights an enemy in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

The Emperor will not tolerate a late Space Marine. Sure, it's been over 10 years since the first Space Marine, but that just means you shouldn't waste even a second more than necessary before jumping into Space Marine 2. Now focused heavily on co-op play, you and two of your friends will need to prepare to face overwhelming Tyranids. You will be armed with the best weapons and armor in the galaxy, but none of that will matter if you are stuck waiting for the game to download. As we approach the release of one of the most anticipated upcoming games of the fall, here's what you need to know about Space Marine 2's release time, file size, and more.
Space Marine 2 release time

Space Marine 2 will release at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET September 9. You can refer to the above map to find your specific time zone.
Space Marine 2 file size
Space Marine 2 will be a decent-sized game, but not as big of a hog as other games like Call of Duty. It is will be 54GB on the PlayStation 5 and just a bit bigger on Xbox at 58GB.
Space Marine 2 preload options

Gaming

You’re going to want a squad for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

A space marine stands tall in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, an upcoming action game from Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment, is shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest hits. The last look we had at the shooter was in 2023, where we glimpsed a short mission on Kadaku. This time, I went hands on with two Operations mode missions, as well as the Voidsong mission, where I primarily took part as a solo player.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is quite unlike its predecessor, which only offered a single-player campaign. This sequel allows for online campaign co-op for up to three players. Players take control of former Ultramarines Captain Titus, flanked by squadmates Chairon and Gadriel, who are controlled by the AI in case you’re unable to invite friends. With thrilling gameplay that creates a genuine “against all odds” feel, Space Marine 2 has the right ingredients for an engaging co-op shooter -- you’ll just want to make sure you have some friends to play with.
Of bots and boltguns
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 puts players in the heavily armored boots of a titular Space Marine, a gene-enhanced superhuman soldier at the frontlines of millenia-long wars. As a selectable class in Operations mode or as Captain Titus in the campaign, you make use of a plethora of weapons in pulse-pounding third-person shooter gameplay. These armaments include Melta Guns with their fiery projectiles, rapid-firing Carbines, reliable Boltguns and Bolt Pistols, massive Power Fists, and energy-infused Power Swords.