The recent 4.0 update for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has caused quite a stir among players. Many feel that the new difficulty option added in the patch is too frustrating, and other changes have made co-op missions harder, leading to backlash from the community. Players have expressed concerns that the game is no longer as enjoyable as before.
Space Marine 2 was launched last month to critical acclaim and player praise, quickly becoming one of the biggest games of 2024. Developer Saber Interactive has promised future updates that will introduce new features, cosmetic options, modes, missions, weapons, and more to the game. However, the most recent patch has nerfed co-op weapons and items, making it increasingly challenging to complete missions.
The 4.0 patch, released on October 17, introduced a new co-op mission with a formidable alien monster to defeat. However, it also implemented changes that have left players dissatisfied. These changes include restrictions on ammo collection from crates, increased difficulty in parrying enemy attacks with certain melee weapons, significant nerfs to a powerful boss-killing weapon in Operations, and reduced armor effectiveness on the Ruthless difficulty setting. The patch also introduced a new Lethal difficulty setting, which some players find excessively difficult due to a new trait requiring players to stay close to teammates to regain armor.
The player community has expressed disappointment with these changes, with many taking to Reddit to voice their grievances. Some players have compared the update to the controversial nerfs in Helldivers 2, which caused outrage among the community. On Steam, over 900 negative reviews have been posted for Space Marine 2, signaling potential review-bombing in the future.
In response to the backlash, Saber Interactive and Focus, the game’s publisher, announced on Twitter that they are working on another patch to address the balance issues raised by players. The message assured players that their feedback had been acknowledged, and the upcoming patch would include balancing fixes. This announcement seems to have placated the community for now as they await the next update.
The developers have defended their changes by stating that they found Operations mode to be too easy and intended to increase the challenge. They acknowledged that they would continue to monitor player feedback and adjust the balance of the game accordingly. It is evident that Saber Interactive is committed to addressing player concerns and ensuring that Space Marine 2 remains an enjoyable experience for all.