THQ, Relic Announce 'Intimate, Brutal' Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

THQ's Relic Entertainment will develop a new Warhammer 40,000 action-RPG subtitled Space Marine, to launch on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Although THQ has published several Warhammer universe tie-ins since acquiring the license from Games Workshop in 2001, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine will mark the franchise's first outing on current-gen consoles, following 2003's Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior on PS2. The latest title in the series originally based on a tabletop war game will let players control individual units through a story-driven campaign and in "wide-scale" online battles. It's set in the 41st millennium, where space marines must save humanity from extinction at the hands of aliens and demons. "Relic Entertainment is leveraging years of experience developing games within the universe to create an Action-RPG experience unlike anything seen before," promises THQ global brand management VP Kevin Kraff. Relic Entertainment GM Jonathan Dowdeswell adds, "Relic has a deep understanding of the license based on our previous projects with Games Workshop, and our goal is to ensure Space Marine delivers the most intimate and brutal Warhammer 40,000 experience to date." The title's currently in development and THQ has not announced an official release window, but says it plans to show the title at E3 next week.