The developers and publishers of 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 from the community over events perceived as promoting "FOMO," or the fear of missing out. FOMO is a strategy commonly employed by live service game developers to spur quick engagement and spending on time-limited virtual items. The implication is that players must act fast to acquire these items, or miss out on them permanently.
This approach has often been criticized for fostering an unhealthy dynamic between video games and their communities. Research conducted in 2021 by the UK's GambleAware charity highlighted how many games use psychological tactics, such as the fear of missing out on limited-time offers or loot boxes, to encourage purchases. Although Space Marine 2 does not feature loot boxes, the introduction of community events designed to unlock exclusive cosmetics has sparked controversy and led some to label 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 "cold feedback" regarding the community events. They reassured players that items available during these events would be accessible again in the future for everyone. Here is their statement:
We have noted that the Community Events have received cold feedback since we introduced them as an additional way to unlock cosmetic items. We saw that many of you mentioned FOMO generated by the events. Rest assured, we are not looking to transform Space Marine 2 into a full live service game. The items available through events WILL be available later, for everyone. We want Community Events to be a way to unlock the items in advance, for the most dedicated players, and not to be a source of frustration and stress for everyone.
However, that means we must provide a smooth experience in unlocking said items, which has not been the case so far. We deeply apologize for the trouble, and are currently working on a simplified process to unlock the items, to make the experience less constraining.
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 obtainable by achieving a victory with each of the six classes in Operations Mode by the deadline.
The Space Marine 2 community is eagerly anticipating the upcoming 7.0 update, which will introduce a new weapon, a new Operations map, and PvE Prestige Ranks. Last month, Focus and Saber addressed the community's growing frustration over content scarcity and outlined upcoming plans for the game.
Space Marine 2 achieved a record-breaking launch late last year, selling 5 million copies and becoming the fastest-selling Warhammer video game to date.
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