Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which many were hoping would drop right into the nice and cosy February-April period of next year, will be a little sad after today’s news. The co-op action shooter is not only nowhere near release, its launch target is a little puzzling.

Publisher Focus Entertainment has been showing the game at various trade shows in recent months, dropping extended gameplay trailers and pretty much acting in a way that suggests the release date is close.

However, Focus shared an update about its partnerships/games in the pipeline this week, where the publisher dropped a big bomb. Space Marine 2 is currently targetting release in the second half of 2024, meaning anywhere between June and December. The good news, at least, is that a firm release date will be revealed next month – likely at this year’s Game Awards ceremony.

As spotted by @Knoebelbroet on Twitter, the press release [PDF] covers a number of titles currently in the works.

It does not position Space Marine 2’s new release target as a delay, per se, just that the time will allow developer Saber Interactive to “properly polish the game and to ensure the best possible experience” – all pretty standard verbiage that accompanies delays. Finally, Focus revealed that Space Marine 2 has over one million wishlists so far.

Space Marine 2 has always previewed really well, and Saber has been allowing the press/media to play it as recently as August at Gamescom (another thing that makes today’s news a little surprising). Dom had a lot of great things to say about its meaty action, weighty animations, deep combat and on-point atmosphere.

All that said, it’s also worth keeping in mind that Space Marine 2 will host a beta at some point, which you can still sign up for, so you may end up playing a little earlier than the second half of 2024.