It is revealed in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 that the events of the first game happened roughly 200 years ago, yet Titus remains the protagonist of both. He has a different title in the sequel, suffering a demotion in the ranks of the Ultramarines, yet he doesn't look much older despite the centuries that have past, besides receiving a few more polygons to make him look better than ever. This 200 year gap is brought up casually as well, as if it is normal for Space Marines to live as long as Titus.

With all the factions, decades spent writing lore, and enough books to fill a library, it isn't surprising that there is an explanation for this in Warhammer 40K's archives. There's an explanation for almost everything, yet there is a lot of confusion regarding this topic. Although long-lived, it isn't known how old Space Marines can get, nor if they can die in their beds of old age. In a way, Space Marines are similar to the eponymous mutants of The Witcher, in that they live far longer than the average person, yet always die in battle rather than falling to father time.

Space Marine Mutations Help Them Live For Centuries

No One Knows How Long They Can Live

Space Marines undergo a myriad of mutations and Gene-Seed implantations to make them the hulking behemoths that tower over ordinary soldiers of the Adeptus Militarum. Gene-Seeds are a catch-all term used to describe the many organs and mutations that are implanted into a Space Marine to make them the feared super soldiers of the Imperium of Man, and these are the key to a Space Marine's long life. Space Marines enjoy such longevity that they don't worry about old age, since they always end up dying in glorious combat with their brothers.

Space Marines in the same chapter refer to each other as brothers. Those in different chapters usually call one another cousins.

Titus himself is actually far older than just 200 years. He was 175 years old during the first game, and it is assumed that he is close to 400 years of age in the sequel, although there is some confusion around the Service Studs on his face. He has four Gold Studs in Space Marine 2, which typically represent a century of service each, making him over 400 years old, but it should be noted that Warhammer 40K is not always consistent with its Service Studs and the age of some Space Marines. In general, the timeline seems muddled.

Titus Is Young Compared To Other Legendary Space Marines

200 Years Is A Short Time For A Space Marine

Rather unsurprisingly, a 200 gap isn't that long for a lot of notable Space Marines in the Warhammer 40K universe. Even Titus' 400 years of service pale in comparison to the likes of Logan Grimnar, the Great Wolf and Chapter Master of the Space Wolf Space Marine Chapter. It is known that he is 700 years old, spending 500 years as the Great Wolf, but he isn't even the oldest living Space Marine in 40K's lore. That honor goes to Luis Dante, Chapter Master of the Blood Angels.

Space Marine Chapters each have a Chapter Master, with Marneus Augustus Calgar acting as the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines.

Dante has been serving as Chapter Master for roughly 1,100 years, sometimes known as the Lord of Angels and Bringer of Sanguinius' Light. He is thought to be the oldest living loyalist Space Marine that still has his original body, and is currently over 1,500 years old. It should be noted that Space Marines still age, despite how long they live. Dante is still one of the deadliest Space Marines, even with his advanced age, so it seems like it takes forever for them to slow down.

Dreadnoughts Help Space Marines Live For Thousands Of Years

Titus Could Still Be Kicking For 50K

Space Marines can get put into Dreadnoughts once they are mortally wounded, making them armored coffins able to kill almost anything. While in Dreadnoughts, Space Marines can live for so long that they can cause other races to have an existential crisis. When the Tau managed to kill a Dreadnought, they discovered that it was over six thousand years old – older than their civilization. This Dreadnought isn't even the oldest around, since some were part of the Horus Heresy, ten thousand years before the events of 40K.

Ultimately, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 serves as a great portal into the 40K universe, giving newcomers small glimpses rather than overwhelming them with everything at once. Titus' long life is a good example of this, subtly presenting players with the idea that Space Marines are extremely long-lived super soldiers without bringing up characters like Dante and Grimnar. It is both a great game and the perfect rabbit hole for the 40K universe.