A third-person shooter with hack-and-slash combat, it arrived way too close to a much more eagerly anticipated title, Gears of War 3, to attract much attention. Despite the above-average critical reception, it still resonated with both 40K and action game fans. Of course, the rest is history as Space Marine 2 launched last September, almost 13 years after the original in some regions, and became a massive hit.

We’ve since come full circle as Sega partners with Relic once more, joined by SneakyBox, to deliver Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition. This can be considered a remaster with 4K resolution support, improved textures and character models, a modern control scheme (though the original is still available), and remastered audio.

Even the interface has been revamped while every piece of previously released content, from the Armor Sets and Chapter Packs to the Chaos Unleashed Map Pack, is included. The question is: How does it hold up after all these years? The answer is, unsurprisingly, very well. Gloriously well, even. The real question is whether it’s worth picking up, especially if you own the Anniversary Edition.

"Even if some environments may be viewed as monotone, the art direction stays true to the 40K series. The Manufactorum is dense with industrial structures mixing Gothic and brutalist architecture, imposingly overlooking residents and invaders alike."

Space Marine kicks off in a streamlined fashion. The Orks have invaded the Forge World of Graia, which serves as a Manufactorum for the Imperium. More importantly, it houses a Titan Invictus, so the Imperium can’t just commence Exterminatus or wait for its fleet to show up. Cue the Adeptus Astartes, the Ultramarines, led by Captain Titus. Together with Sergeant Sidonus and Marine Leandros, they drop onto Graia in a hard-hitting fashion and commence slaying the Orks.

If that were the whole tale, it would be enough, thanks to the extremely satisfying gameplay, but Space Marine tells a compelling story, with the intrigue surrounding a mysterious Power Source keeping the Manufactorum’s lights on. There is the customary twist and revelation, and before you know it, the mission has become much harrier than Titus and his squad imagined. Nevertheless, the plot maintains a consistent tempo and pace, introducing compelling characters like Lieutenant Mira, Inquisitor Drogan, without bogging you down with extraneous details.

The same goes for the atmosphere. Even if some environments may be viewed as monotone, the art direction stays true to the 40K series. The Manufactorum is dense with industrial structures mixing Gothic and brutalist architecture, imposingly overlooking residents and invaders alike. Most importantly, it doesn’t stand unblemished with copious smoke, dust clouds, and rubble, adding to the effect of Graia being under siege as you stomp through corridors and trenches.

The level design is decidedly linear, but gameplay rarely feels boring, thanks to the objectives. You start by landing on an Ork ship, busting through its barricades and ultimately turning a turret against it. From there, it escalates into full-on skirmishes, from the initial ambush to planting an explosive charge to sabotage a massive cannon and even hopping aboard a train doubling up as an Ork battering ram to destroy it, which culminates in a battle against a gunship.

It would all be for nought without incredible combat, but that’s Space Marine’s bread and butter. Titus can carry up to four ranged weapons – a pistol with unlimited ammo, two primaries, and a power weapon – and a melee weapon like a combat knife, Power Axe, and, of course, the Chainsword. Gunplay relies on an over-the-shoulder perspective for more precise aiming, but you can seamlessly transition to melee strikes and combos. No parries here – stunning an Ork allows for an execution that restores health, though it leaves you open to surrounding attacks. Since armor requires not taking any damage to regenerate, some scenarios can be tense, as you’re fighting off a horde of Orks, desperately regenning health, slicing and stomping them away while seeking the next healing pop.

"Granted, the graphical options on PC aren’t extensive – you can change the Shadows and Visual FX Detail along with enabling Ambient Occlusion and Vertical Sync, but that’s pretty much it. Aside from missing an option to enable Post Processing, it’s pretty much identical to the original."

It never feels stale either, especially when you’re receiving new weapons like the Stalker Bolter or Vengeance Launcher, on top of upgrades for your current arsenal. Even Fury Mode ascends from your average Rage mechanic into an effective sniping tool as everything slows down, allowing you to line up headshots. Combined with the Orks displaying effective enough intelligence, like gunners seeking cover or melee combatants swaying this way and that to make it harder to hit headshots, each skirmish is very enjoyable.

That being said, there are some negatives. In true Space Marine fashion, your squad’s AI can be hit or miss. One second they’ll valiantly fight off a dozen Orks, assaulting them at once, and the next, they’re casually standing by while two heavies pursue you. The Orks aren’t immune to lapses in judgment either, at times staying behind cover unresponsive, and at others, ignoring gunshots and their comrades being murdered. I’m not saying I expected improvements on either front in the Master Crafted Edition, but it can occasionally take you out of the action. The other criticism which still holds up is the overall length of the campaign. It’s ultimately up to personal preference, but considering the overall mission design, pacing, and action, I feel like it delivers enough quality for its runtime.

Of course, the biggest selling point of this “remaster” is the visuals. You’d be hard-pressed to notice any major differences from the original, but after returning to the Anniversary Edition, I can confirm improvements. The opening cinematic, including the establishing text, is sharper. The higher-fidelity textures on the Ultramarines are also notable with crisp details – the weathered metal on the armor looks much better defined. Even the shadows on Sidonus’s beard look better.

The differences in environmental details are more challenging to discern. In some places, the texture work in both games looks great, while the lighting, shadows, and smoke effects (especially in the opening assault) are noticeably improved in the Master Crafted Edition. I did spot some additional touch-ups to structures, making them look more damaged, but then you have more baffling changes like the opening Ork barricades being colored black instead of red. Technically, there is some shadow dithering in places, especially on close-ups in the cutscenes, and the anti-aliasing can be less-than-impressive over long distances, especially in the factories where harsher lines are more plentiful, but it’s noticeable in some foliage as well.

Performance on PC is otherwise quite good, with consistent 60 frames per second at 1440p on a Core i5-11400, RTX 4060 and 32 GB of RAM. Granted, the graphical options aren’t extensive – you can change the Shadows and Visual FX Detail along with enabling Ambient Occlusion and Vertical Sync, but that’s pretty much it. Aside from missing an option to enable Post Processing, it’s pretty much identical to the original. As for bugs, aside from my screen suddenly turning completely dark and requiring reloading to a previous checkpoint, I didn’t face any issues.

"If you haven’t picked up the Anniversary Edition or want to experience it in 4K with some visual improvements (and don’t mind dropping $40 or subscribing to PC Game Pass or Ultimate), then Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is worth playing."

The UI is the other notable change, and it definitely looks cleaner. Gone is your health bar at the top of the screen – it’s now positioned in the upper left. Weapons now denoted how much ammo is left in each magazine, and I kind of prefer the older style, which represented each bullet as a notch. The menus are also cleaner, while the text denoting each chapter is now positioned in the center of the screen instead of to the right (once again, I prefer the latter).

Unfortunately, I was unable to find any multiplayer games and couldn’t really test out Versus Mode or crossplay. Exterminatus, the default horde mode, at least allows for solo play in Private Matches, and as impossible as it can be – especially since you can’t execute stunned enemies to regenerate health, an annoying carryover from the original – it’s still fun. Ambling around as a Devastator, unloading shots into the coming horde, or dashing with the Assault Marine’s Jump Pack before delivering death from above is enjoyable.

If you haven’t picked up the Anniversary Edition or want to experience it in 4K with some visual improvements (and don’t mind dropping $40 or subscribing to PC Game Pass or Ultimate), then Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is worth playing. Despite lacking many of the modern bells and whistles of Space Marine 2 and suffering from some AI hiccups, both friendly and otherwise, it’s still an endearing, pulse-pounding action experience.

This game was reviewed on PC.

On June 10th, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition, a remaster of the beloved 2011 action title, is available on Ultimate and PC Game Pass for cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S players. Barbie Project Friendship follows on June 11th for all three subscription tiers, while Kingdom: Two Crowns is live for PC Game Pass and Ultimate.

On June 12th, EA Sports FC 25 becomes playable for Ultimate and PC Game Pass, followed by The Alters on June 13th. June 17th marks the arrival of FBC: Firebreak, Remedy’s co-op shooter set years after Control. The same day sees the launch of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time for consoles and PC and Lost in Random: The Eternal Die for Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

There could be more announcements at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 8th, so stay tuned. As for titles leaving on June 15th, they include:

• Dordogne (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Hypnospace Outlaw (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Isonzo (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Keplerth (PC)
• My Time At Sandrock (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Depersonalization (PC)

4K VISUALS

Let’s start with the basics- as you’d expect from a remaster, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is of course going to make the sort of fundamental technical enhancements that you would expect. That means the game will run at a 4K resolution (on hardware that’s capable of running it, that is), while 60 FPS performance is also confirmed.

MORE TECHNICAL ENHANCEMENTS

In addition to a bump to the resolution and confirmed 60 FPS support, Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition will have other visual and technical enhancements as well. The developer have confirmed that the remaster will also boast higher fidelity textures, improved character models, and remastered audio.

NEW CONTROLS AND UI

On the gameplay side of things, Space Marine’s remaster isn’t making too many drastic changes, as you would expect from a game that is really not that old, though you can expect a couple of improvements nonetheless. For instance, it’s been confirmed that the Master Crafted Edition will feature an overhauled user interface, as well as modernized controls to make the game a smoother experience for current audiences.

ALL DLC INCLUDED

In addition to the base Space Marine experience, the upcoming Master Crafted Edition is also going to include all the DLC that was released for the original title. That means you can expect additional weapons, maps, armour sets, and more all included with the base experience right out the gate.

MULTIPLAYER

In addition to the single player campaign (which is likely going to be the primary attraction for many), Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition will also include the multiplayer component. Players will be able to compete in 8v8 competitive multiplayer, with three playable classes available, as well as a full suit of progression and customization systems. Meanwhile, it’s also confirmed that the multiplayer will support cross-play across all platforms.

PLATFORMS

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is due out soon, but surprisingly, it’s not going to be available on all platforms. The remaster will be available for Xbox Series X/S and on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, which means PS5 players won’t get to dive in. Whether the game will eventually release for PlayStation or perhaps the Switch or Switch 2 remains to be seen, but nothing has been announced on that front.

PC REQUIREMENTS

As you’d expect from a remaster of a 14 year old game, Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition’s system requirements on PC aren’t terribly demanding. On minimum settings, to run the game at 1080p and 3o FPS, you’ll need either an i5-6400 or a Ryzen 5 3600, as well as either a GeForce GTX 970 or a Radeon R9 290X, and 8 GB of RAM. Meanwhile, on recommended settings, you’ll require either an i5-12400F or a Ryzen 5 5600x, along with either a GeForce RTX 2060 or a Radeon RX 6600, and 16 GB of RAM. On either setting, you’ll also need about 45 GB of free storage space.

PRICE

Unsurprisingly, Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is also not going to be a full priced release. When it launches for PC and Xbox Series X/S on June 10, the remaster will be available for a price of $39.99.

GAME PASS

Upon its launch, the Space Marine remaster will also be available to Game Pass subscribers on PC and Xbox, which means subscribers will be able to dive in without having to purchase the game.

STORY

We’ve covered plenty of key details for the upcoming Space Marine remaster, but what about the base experience itself? For instance, what can newcomers who will be playing the game for the first time expect from its story? The game follows protagonist Demetrian Titus, an eponymous Space Marine, an elite soldier who fights for the Imperium against alien forces and enemies. Joined by two fellow Ultramarines, Titus fights against an invasion of Ork forces on Forge World Graia, a planet that produces weapons for the Imperium.

COMBAT 

The original Space Marine came out at the peak of linear action titles, and that is exactly what you can expect from the shooter- same as its sequel last year, but of course, less elaborate and less technically impressive. Space Marine primarily takes the form of an over the shoulder third person shooter with combat taking cues from the Gears of War franchise, with several usable weapons included. That’ll include the likes of a bolt gun, the plasma gun, the stalker bolter, and the sticky grenade firing Vengeance Launcher.

MELEE COMBAT

High octane third person shooter combat is obviously Space Marine’s bread and butter on the gameplay front, but the action game does also place a little bit of emphasis on melee combat, same as its sequel. Throughout the campaign (as well as in multiplayer, of course), players will be able to use a variety of different melee weapons, each bringing their own unique play styles, strengths, and attributes. Some of the weapons you will be able to use will include the likes of the combat knife, the chainsaw-like chainsword, the chain axe, the power sword, the daemon maul, and many others.

MORE COMBAT DETAILS

Every now and then in the middle of combat, Titus will also be able to unleash a fury mode, which becomes available when a meter is filled up. When fury mode is activated, not only do you get stronger melee attacks, you also get access to regenerating health, making you an even deadlier soldier on the battlefield. With upgrades, fury mode also enhances your ranged capabilities. Meanwhile, once you’re deeper into the campaign, you’ll also be able to use a jetpack for short periods, adding a layer of verticality to the combat.

MULTIPLAYER CLASSES

Space Marine 1’s multiplayer is a pretty diverse and engaging experience, even if it obviously isn’t quite as full-featured as its sequel’s multiplayer component. Three different classes are available to players, each bringing their own strengths and weaknesses. There’s the Assault class, which comes equipped with a jetpack and touts expertise with melee weapons, but can only use a limited range of ranged weapons. Then there’s the Devastator, a slow moving tank that has access to the deadliest ranged weaponry but can’t do too much on the melee front. Finally, there’s Tactical, which is an all-rounder class that can make use of both ranged and melee abilities and weapons to certain degrees.

LENGTH

Space Marine isn’t a terribly long game, with a campaign that, true to the era that it came out in, knows exactly when it wants to end. As per HLTB, the shooter’s main story should take roughly between 7-10 hours to see through to completion, depending on how you choose to engage with the game. Of course, with replays and with the multiplayer component included, there’s plenty more that you can get out of the game.

Looking to cash in on that success, Sega has smartly announced with great timing Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition, a remaster of the original 2011 cult classic that’s set to arrive in under a month’s time for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass (no word yet on whether we can expect a PS5 version at any point)- and we’re more than a little excited for it. More than anything else, this seems like a really good time to deliver an enhanced version of the original game to an audience that will be craving more Space Marine fresh off of the incredibly high highs of Space Marine 2.

And exactly what kind of a remaster do we have to look forward to? With The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered fresh in our collective memory, some might perhaps have higher expectations of remasters than usual right now, and no, it doesn’t look like Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is going to be anywhere close to being in that arena. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a simple, highly conservative upres, something along the lines of the also freshly released Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny remaster.

No, Space Marine 1’s upcoming re-release is looking instead like something of a middle ground between those two extremes. As a 2011 game, Space Marine obviously does stand in need of modernizations and enhancements, but also as a 2011 game, it’s recent enough that it doesn’t need too much work to get reasonably close to modern standards- at least to the extent where it doesn’t feel too aged to be properly played and enjoyed. And that. unsurprisingly, is exactly the sort of remaster it looks like the Master Crafted Edition is going to be.

Sega has confirmed that the remaster will enhance Space Marine’s visuals to a 4K resolution; update and upgrade its character models, feature remaster audio, textures, and assets; and feature modernized controls and UI tweaks, among other things. Meanwhile, as you would expect, all of the original game’s DLC is also going to be included, adding new maps, weapons, armour sets, and more, while Space Marine’s 8v8 online multiplayer component will be featured in its entirety as well, with cross-play supported as well.

What that means, in a nutshell, that the Master Crafted Edition is going to bring over Space Marine as you remember it, with none of its content or features missing, and at least an expected level of visual and technical enhancements being made to elevate the experience and bring it closer in line to modern games. The footage that we have seen of the remaster in its debut trailer suggests that we’re in for a solid-looking experience, even if it is still looking like a decade-plus old game in several ways (which, fair enough- it is a decade-plus old game, after all).

That, of course, means that audiences should be able to better enjoy Space Marine and its biggest strengths with some of its rough edges removed and a fresh layer of polish applied by the remaster. And there are quite a few strengths to speak of, as fans of the original will happily tell you. It is probably fair to say that 2024’s Space Marine 2 ended up outdoing and overshadowing its predecessor in nearly every way possible, so you absolutely should not be going in expecting something that will exceed last year’s long-awaited sequel (or, honestly, even be on the same level).

What you should still be absolutely expecting, however, is a fantastic third-person shooter in its own right. No frills, linear, shooters with full-fledged single-player and multiplayer components may have been the industry standard back when Space Marine 1 first launched in 2011, but they absolutely aren’t anymore, so the idea of a remastered version of just that kind of an experience releasing for modern platforms is an exciting one. After all, Space Marine 2 proved the immense value of that kind of experience all over again last year, so it’s safe to say that we’re more than ready for a similar ride with the Master Crafted Edition.

From a gameplay perspective, it’s fair to say that not much in the original Space Marine comes close to matching the highest highs of its sequel – such as its incredibly intense large-scale battles against waves upon waves of rampaging foes, above all else – but there should be little doubt nonetheless that the timelessness of the original’s no nonsense design and its fun and immediate third-person action should be able to shine through, especially with the right enhancements propping them up. There is the chance, of course, that things go spectacularly wrong and the Master Crafted Edition ends up completely bungling things, but we’re going to hope that that isn’t what we’re headed for.

There is obviously quite a lot of Space Marine content to look forward to for fans of the series after the decade-plus long gap between the first two entries’ releases. In addition to the Master Crafted Edition, we obviously do still have continued post-launch content and updates to look forward to for Space Marine 2 as well, while, more significantly, the sequel’s developer Saber Interactive is also working on another new entry in the franchise in the form of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3. Given the new lease of life that the franchise has received and the renewed interest that audiences suddenly have in it, it’s no surprise that Sega is looking to strike the iron while it’s hot with a remaster of a cult classic. After all, you’d imagine that demand for such a release is going to be pretty high, as it has been for essentially years at this point.

While it is a little surprising that the Space Marine remaster is choosing to skip the PS5 (or, for that matter, the Switch or Switch 2), even a release that’s initially limited to Xbox and PC should attract a healthy player base, while there’s also every chance that it does end up releasing for other platforms down the line (in fact, we’d be surprised if it doesn’t). It’s safe to say, then, that there’s a ready and willing audience that is waiting for a well-made Space Marine 1 remaster. Let’s just hope, then, that the Master Crafted Edition doesn’t waste this opportunity and is able to deliver a good enough version of the 2011 original. For now, we’re setting our expectations to “cautiously optimistic.”

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition sticks to the same art direction as the original but sports improved textures and character models. There’s also 4K resolution support, an overhauled UI, a modern control scheme and revamped audio. You also get all the DLC, from the Chaos Unleashed Map Pack and Dreadnought Assault to all the armor sets, Golden weapons, and Chapter Packs.

Alongside the campaign, you can partake in 8v8 online matches with cross-platform multiplayer. There are three classes to choose from – Devastator, Assault, and Tactical Marine – which can be customized as you earn experience.

Sega also touted quality-of-life improvements, but further details are pending. Stay tuned for updates.