April 1 has come and gone, marking the end of another year of playful pranks within the video game industry. However, the April Fool's Day gag from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 might just linger in fans' memories a bit longer.

On April 1, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, announced a new Chaplain class as DLC, claiming it would be available for players to swap out Titus for The Chaplain in story mode. "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," Focus stated, undoubtedly with a chuckle behind their screens.

This faux DLC promised to introduce the Chaplain as a playable character, complete with an 'Enhanced Dialogue System.' Every five minutes, the Chaplain would remind his comrades that "the Codex Astartes does not support this action," and threaten to report them to the Inquisition. Additionally, the Chaplain's special ability, Discipline, would supposedly allow him to report any deviation from the Codex Astartes, earning a 5% discipline bonus at the cost of a 20% brotherhood penalty.

The humor in this prank stems from the campaign of Space Marine 2, where Chaplain Quintus constantly scrutinizes Titus for signs of heresy, despite his unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. As Titus fights against the Tyranids and the traitorous Thousand Sons, it's evident he possesses a unique quality that Quintus finds unsettling. The Chaplain's overzealous monitoring is reminiscent of an overbearing school prefect, earning him a notorious reputation within the Space Marine community.

The Chaplain has become a meme among fans, and this April Fool's Day stunt plays into that notoriety. Some enthusiasts have expressed a genuine interest in seeing the Chaplain added to the game, not with the humorous abilities from the prank, but as a serious warrior-priest who emphasizes the worship of the Emperor.

"This would actually go hard if this was real," commented ResidentDrama9739 on the Space Marine subreddit, 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, the details remain under wraps. Speculation among fans leans towards the Apothecary, the closest thing Space Marines have to a medic class, though some hope for the Librarian with its warp-powered abilities. The Chaplain's spotlight in the April Fool's Day prank leaves fans wondering if he's been ruled out.

Despite the surprise announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2's year one roadmap continues. Patch 7 is slated for mid-April, and the game is expected to receive the new class, along with new PvE operations and melee weapons in the coming months.