After the success of its follow-up entry that set new records for the franchise, the original Space Marine is getting a shiny new port to celebrate the origins of the series with the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition. While the enhanced edition isn’t a full-blown remake, it still offers several remastered features that make it more than worth revisiting. Whether you’ve played countless hours of the original Space Marine, just the sequel, or are completely new to the series, the Master Crafted Edition offers the ultimate way to experience one of the highest-rated Warhammer games yet.
While not needing to know Warhammer 40k lore is one of Space Marine 2‘s best aspects for new players, revisiting the original entry in the series is a great way to get an even deeper understanding of Titus and his struggle against the enemies of the Imperium. Swapping out legions of mindless Tyranids with gun-toting Orks, there’s plenty of challenge and satisfying combat to behold at an even higher level of fidelity. With Space Marine 3 already confirmed to be on the horizon, there’s no better time to revisit the game that started the craze once more.
Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition Release Date & Story Details
The Wait Isn’t Long To Replay One Of Warhammer 40,000’s Best Games
Unlike the lengthy wait times between major Space Marine 2 updates, the release date for the Master Crafted Edition is only mere weeks away, arriving on June 10, 2025. Following Titus and his original companions against the hordes of Orks and forces of Chaos, the Master Crafted Edition aims to be the definitive way to experience the game, being remastered for next-generation systems and PC. Given that the original title has been locked ot Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for consoles since 2011, the series has never been more accessible before now.
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Remastered out of house by SneakyBox, the original Space Marine experience is left entirely intact aside from visual and auditory enhancements, with the developers claiming to have focused on revitalizing the experience without erasing what made the original special. As someone who has had the original Space Marine gaining cobwebs in their library for years, I can’t wait for an excuse to revisit the blood-pumping combat that Space Marine has to offer when it re-releases this summer.
Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition Platforms & Price
Taking The Iconic Space Marine Experience To The Next Generation
Releasing simultaneously on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Game Pass, Space Marine – Master Craft Edition is finally making the visceral combat experience available on next-generation systems. While the enhanced edition isn’t groundbreaking for PC players following the free Anniversary Edition update in 2021, the Master Crafted Edition adds plenty of upgrades to give it a leg up over its previous releases. With Titus being a prominent figure in the franchise, his past will likely be explored in greater detail during Space Marine 3, making Space Marine a great way to pass the time while waiting for the sequel.
Unfortunately, there is currently no sign of a PlayStation release for the Master Crafted Edition, with the title only being available on PC and Xbox consoles for the foreseeable future.
Unlike the previous Anniversary Edition update, the Space Marine – Master Craft Edition will be sold separately at $39.99 on release, while being available day one for Xbox Game Pass owners. Although the price might be somewhat steep for owners of the original game looking to upgrade, it contains the entirety of the original experience on top of all previously released DLC, all remastered to more modern standards. While the single-player experience is largely the same as the original game, the most exciting aspect by far is what the Master Crafted Edition release means for revitalizing Space Marine‘s forgotten multiplayer.
Master Crafted Edition Changes & Enhancements
A Plethora Of Improvements For Titus’ Origin Story
The most noticeable aspect of Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition comes in the form of its visual updates, offering higher fidelity with improved fidelity, textures, character models, and even 4k resolution, all working to bring the experience to life on modern hardware. The visuals aren’t the only experience-enhancing feature either, as the audio has been remastered once again to the standard you would expect coming out of Space Marine 2, making its bombastic action and intense firefights all the more satisfying.
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Aside from increasing its quality, some of the improvements are tailor-made to bring Space Marine closer to updated 40k lore as well, best seen with its updated Ork character models and voice acting. Given that the original Space Marine‘s age has become more apparent in the 14 years since its release, the Master Crafted Edition offers a modernized control scheme and interface overhaul to make its gameplay more accessible. From replacing the original flash-based UI with a sleek, user-friendly variation to adding easily accessible weapon wheels that make combat more fluid, Space Marine’s gameplay experience has become much more streamlined.
Space Marine’s gameplay experience has become much more streamlined.
On the more technical side of things, the Master Crafted Edition of Space Marine is being rewritten with an overhauled engine to allow for the revitalized visuals, on top of upgrading to a 64-bit system for a more stable gameplay experience. With the Warhammer 40,000 series gaining more mainstream popularity as bigger and better projects release, it feels like the perfect time to jump back into one of the games that aided its widespread appeal.
Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition Gameplay Details
The Same Beloved Gameplay With Some Meaningful Upgrades
Bringing back all of Space Marine‘s single-player campaign, 16-player PvP modes, and co-op PvE gameplay in its full glory, the main appeal of Space Marine Master Crafted Edition comes from its expectedly high player count. Given that the new Master Crafted Edition also includes all the previously released DLC for Space Marine, there’s plenty of content left to enjoy, from iconic chapters and packs to fan-favorite game modes alongside an exciting assortment of weapons to unleash upon your enemies.
Similar to Space Marine 2‘s gameplay options, its predecessor has a substantial range of incredibly powerful weapons that still haven’t made their way to the sequel, providing a fresh gameplay experience for those coming off the heels of its sequel. On top of the difference in arsenal, the original Space Marine‘s multiplayer still has plenty to offer with its Exterminatus-themed horde missions and Dreadnought Assault gamemode, which I’m still hoping will make its return as a free update or when Space Marine 3 eventually launches.
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While it wasn’t without criticism by any means, the original Space Marine is still fondly remembered to this day thanks to its blockbuster action, fine-tuned combat systems, and incredibly fun multiplayer modes. Each of these aspects is taken to new heights in the upcoming Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition, with a more immersive campaign featuring over a hundred new voice lines, smoother controls, and revived multiplayer, all wrapped up in a single remastered package.
Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine
- Released
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September 5, 2011
- ESRB
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m
- Developer(s)
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Relic Entertainment
- Engine
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havok, phoenix engine
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
