The developers and publishers of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 have firmly stated that they are not aiming to convert the game into a "full live service" model, following a backlash from the community regarding events perceived as inducing "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out). FOMO is a strategy commonly employed by live service games to spur player engagement and expenditure on time-limited virtual items, creating a sense of urgency that if players do not act swiftly, they will miss out on exclusive content permanently.
This approach has drawn criticism for fostering an unhealthy dynamic between games and their player bases. A 2021 study commissioned by the UK's GambleAware charity highlighted that many games utilize psychological tactics, including FOMO, to push players towards purchasing loot boxes.
While Space Marine 2 does not feature loot boxes, it has introduced community events for unlocking exclusive cosmetics, which sparked the recent controversy and led some to label the game as a "live service" title.
In response to the community's feedback, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive acknowledged the negative reception to these events. They reassured players that items from these events would be re-released for everyone at a later date, emphasizing that their goal is to allow dedicated players to access these items early, not to create stress or frustration. They also apologized for any difficulties players faced in unlocking these items and announced efforts to simplify the process.
To address these concerns, Focus Entertainment is offering the coveted emblem-less Mk VIII Errant Helmet for free to all players who link their PROS account to Space Marine 2. This helmet was part of the Imperial Vigil community event, which concludes on March 3 and was previously only attainable by achieving victories with all six classes in Operations Mode before the deadline.
Space Marine 2 fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming 7.0 update, which will introduce a new weapon, a new Operations map, and PvE Prestige Ranks. Following complaints about a lack of content, Focus and Saber have outlined their plans for the game's future.
Despite these issues, Space Marine 2 achieved a monumental launch, selling 5 million copies and setting a new record as the fastest-selling Warhammer video game ever.
