Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2's Reclamation update finally gives Chaos the respect it deserves

I can't remember the last time I checked out a Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 update and it wasn't incredibly exciting. After revealing a whole roadmap (including finally announcing Iron Hands cosmetics for us Medusan sickos) last time around, developer Saber Interactive isn't showing any signs of stopping. It seems like it's on a one-studio mission to top our list of the best Warhammer 40k games ever made. And if anything can help it to ascend that contested leaderboard, it's making a pact with the Chaos Gods.

Fickle as they may be, the Chaos Gods are certainly stylish. Over the first year of Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2's life, the Chaos legions have been left behind as loyalist after loyalist Chapter received cosmetic after beautiful cosmetic. Following the game's anniversary update, which added a bunch of great Chaos skins for PvP, the Space Marine 2 Reclamation update takes things a step further with full customization.

Saber's press release says that you can now "modify your Chaos Marines the same way you can with Space Marines in PvE modes," but you still can't actually use your CSM in PvE. It would be lore-breaking to the extreme, but who other than James Workshop really cares about that sort of thing?

The update also adds the Sanguinary Guard-style Blood Angels Champion Pack for the Tactical Class and the Salamanders Cosmetic Pack for those players who have shelled out for the game's second Season Pass.

The elephant-sized bug in the room among these changes is the Tyranid Prime, a monstrous new adversary for Space Marines of all persuasions to take down. These xenos cretins are a little bigger than a Warrior (on the tabletop, at least), but add the devastating ability of flight to their arsenal. I expect to meet these winged beasts in the new Reclamation Operation, and to be thoroughly annoyed when my Melta Rifle keeps missing them.

Whether you're in this for Chaos customization, the death mask of Sanguinius, or just a new foe to flatten, Space Marine 2's Reclamation update looks set to be a crowd-pleaser for most. If Chaos cosmetics are allowed in PvE and once the Iron Hands finally have their time in the sun, I'll know true peace. Until then, there is only war.