Players Protest on Steam as Space Marine 2 Gets Unpopular Patch Update

Written by Chidubem Ndubuisi

Saber Interactive’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 recent patch update has sparked a controversy among fans, prompting a review bomb on Steam. The patch, intended to increase difficulty in the game’s multiplayer Operations mode, has been met with widespread criticism for its artificial resource scarcity and class-limiting design.

Key Changes in the Recent Patch

The recent patch for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has introduced several changes to the game’s multiplayer Operations mode. The patch includes the addition of a new “Lethality” difficulty mode, which limits Ammo Crate refills per player and severely nerfs armor regeneration unless players stay close to each other. Furthermore, the Ruthless difficulty tier has been modified to include a unilateral 15% reduction in player armor. Additionally, certain boss-killing tactics have been nerfed, altering the gameplay dynamics.

Community Concerns for the Space Marine 2 Recent Patch Update

The changes in the Space Marine 2 recent patch update forces players to adopt a specific playstyle, restricting the flexibility that defines the gameplay of Space Marine 2, and this is one of the most primary concerns of the Space Marine 2 community. As one player on the game’s subreddit noted:

“Why are they forcing players to stay together? How would that work for a team of assault, vanguard and sniper?”

This sentiment is echoed by MrTactician, who went ahead to summarize the issue:

“In a PvE game, players HATE suddenly performing worse through no fault of their own; it simply doesn’t feel good. Please be careful with the next patch; I do not want another Helldivers catastrophe because the balance team feels that we are having fun in the wrong way.”

The comparison to Helldivers 2 is particularly relevant, as that game faced similar balance issues and community backlash. Arrowhead, the developer of Helldivers 2, struggled to find the right balance, and it took months of tweaks and updates to address player concerns. In the Space Marine 2 recent patch, the limited refills of the Ammo Crate and the reduced armor regeneration have been particularly contentious. Players feel that these changes create artificial difficulty, rather than organic challenges that arise from the design of the game. As one player with over 100 hours of gameplay noted on Steam:

“This mechanic is one of the most confusingly out-of-place approaches to increasing difficulty I have ever seen. It disregards the core pillars of the game’s combat flow and seems to have been implemented in a state of confusion where the developers forgot that certain classes are designed to be played at different ranges from each other.”

Fortunately, Saber Interactive has acknowledged the community’s concerns and promised to address them. Focus Entertainment, the game’s publisher, tweeted:

“We closely read your feedback regarding the latest patch… We’re actively working on another one including balancing fixes. It should release next week.”

This prompt response is encouraging, and the community awaits the upcoming patch with high hopes of their once loved Space Marine 2. Space Marine 2’s patch misstep highlights the challenges of balancing horde shooters. Saber Interactive must course-correct to avoid months of drama, as seen with Helldivers 2. With the game’s design centered around genetically-modified super soldiers, players expect to feel powerful, not constrained.

As the community waits for the next patch, it’s only natural for players to recognize the delicate balance between challenge and enjoyment. Horde shooters thrive on fast-paced action and strategic teamwork, not artificial obstacles. By listening to player feedback and adjusting their approach, Saber Interactive can restore the game’s past glory and deliver an experience worthy of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Editor In Chief’s Note: Patch 4.1,  which addresses a lot of the issues discussed here, was released this Thursday. The game’s Recent Reviews are also “Mostly Positive”

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