As the years rolls on towards E3 and Space Hulk: Deathwing’s big unveiling, more information surrounding the game has been released to the public.

Published on their website, Focus Home Interactive has made a number of surprising reveals, revolving primarily around the multiplayer component and with a few hints of what’s to come.

The first of these, and perhaps the most important to long-time fans of the setting, is the announcement that long time Black Library author Gav Thrope will be penning the story. While something of a controversial figure thanks to his decisions on a prior edition of Codex: Chaos Space Marines, Thrope has contributed many ideas to the setting. One of the most important of these was Angels of Darkness, which served as a cornerstone for the Dark Angels’ lore and is considered a classic by many fans today.

In terms of multiplayer mechanics, what’s been revealed so far is that the Librarian will be playing a special role in co-ordinating units. Replacing a traditional squad sergeant, his role will be to serve as leader and ensure that the squad itself isn’t flanked or doorways are left unsecured. Well, that and killing things with psychic mind bullets. Beyond this, the multiplayer component has explicitly been stated to feature a class based system which will require co-operation between units to succeed in missions, with a heavy emphasis upon squad based tactics. This also comes with the option to have certain Terminators remain AI controlled, relying far more heavily upon the Librarian’s orders. The report also mentioned “savvy hand-eye coordination” which may or may not relate to the news that Space Hulk: Deathwing will be compatible with the Oculus Rift.

Finally, perhaps the best news is that the game will feature a “dynamic AI system that scales attacks depending on the ability of the player squad, ensuring players will always be challenged.” The system sounds extremely similar to the role of The Director in the Left 4 Dead series, as the system controls the intensity of the Genestealer assault and is dependent upon the player’s success rate.

The new screenshots have also unveiled some new information. One in particular displays a squad engaging multiple Broodlords at once, along with the unusual sight of a Librarian wielding plasma cannon.

The battlefield itself also appears to be a chapel or cathedral with multiple space marine statues, suggesting that an astartes vessel might be one location on the space hulk. Expect more on this tory in the near future.

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