The developers and publishers behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 have firmly stated that they are not aiming to transform the game into a “full live service” model, following a backlash against community events that were perceived to encourage "FOMO" or the fear of missing out. FOMO is a strategy commonly employed by live service games to prompt quick engagement and spending on limited-time virtual items. The implication is that if players don't acquire these items during their availability window, they miss out permanently.
This approach is often criticized for fostering an unhealthy dynamic between video games and their player communities. A 2021 study commissioned by the UK’s GambleAware charity highlighted that many games use psychological tactics, such as the fear of missing out on limited-time offers or items, to encourage purchases of loot boxes. While Space Marine 2 does not feature loot boxes, it does include community events aimed at unlocking exclusive cosmetics, which have sparked the recent backlash and led to some labeling the game as a live service.
In response to the community's feedback, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, and developer, Saber Interactive, acknowledged the chilly reception to the community events. They admitted in a statement that concerns about FOMO had been raised. However, they reassured players that all items introduced during these events would be made available to everyone at a later date. The goal, they emphasized, is for community events to provide dedicated players with early access to items, not to create stress or frustration.
The companies also apologized for any inconvenience caused by the current unlocking process and are working on simplifying it to enhance the player experience. As a gesture of goodwill, Focus Entertainment is offering the highly sought-after emblem-less Mk VIII Errant Helmet for free to all players who link their PROS account to Space Marine 2. This item was part of the Imperial Vigil community event, which ends on March 3, and was previously exclusive to those who achieved a victory with each of the six classes in Operations Mode before the deadline.
As the Space Marine 2 community awaits the 7.0 update, which promises to introduce a new weapon, a new Operations map, and PvE Prestige Ranks, Focus and Saber have been addressing concerns over content scarcity. They have outlined their plans for the game's future development. Space Marine 2 has seen tremendous success since its launch late last year, selling 5 million copies and becoming the fastest-selling Warhammer video game to date.
