Microtransactions and DRMs like Denuvo help video game publishers protect their investment so they recoup development costs and make profit so they can keep on making the games that we love. However, over the past few years, most have had an increasing disgust for these buzz words, seeing them as synonymous with corporate greed. So, when a game comes out with no microtransactions and DRMs, word-of-mouth about it tends to spread quickly, with many supporting it just cause, quality be damned. Yet, in the case of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, it’s the perfect storm of a game that has no microtransactions, no DRMs, and is all fun.
Developed by Saber Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment, this latest entry in the Warhammer 40,000 universe has proven to be a runaway hit, selling an astounding 2 million copies in less than two weeks since its release.
Just weeks after a high-profile release like Concord struggled to find its footing, Space Marine 2 proves what developers can accomplish when they focus on delivering a complete and satisfying gaming experience.
The game’s triumph is not just limited to raw sales figures. Space Marine 2 has also set a new record for concurrent players on Steam for a Warhammer 40,000 game, reaching an impressive 225,690 players simultaneously. This is noteworthy given the vast number of games set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, including the co-op shooter Warhammer 40,000: Darktide and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader.
What makes Space Marine 2’s success even more impressive is the pedigree of the team behind it. Saber Interactive’s CEO, Tim Willits, formerly of id Software, claims that Space Marine 2 is the fastest-selling game he’s ever worked on. This includes his time overseeing legendary franchises like Quake, DOOM, Wolfenstein, and RAGE. When industry veterans with decades of experience working on some of gaming’s most iconic titles make such bold statements, it’s clear that something truly special is happening.
While Space Marine 2 doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of mechanics – it’s a third-person shooter combined with hack-and-slash elements – it executes these familiar concepts with near perfection. This approach harkens back to its predecessor from 13 years ago, but with the added benefit of modern hardware allowing for a much grander sense of scale and spectacle. Perhaps, most important of all is it offers a full-length single-player campaign, a cooperative mode reminiscent of the popular Helldivers 2, and a robust multiplayer suite, all available without the need for battle passes or microtransactions, a refreshing change at a time when games seem designed primarily to extract additional funds from players long after the initial purchase.
This old-school approach to game design and monetization is its main selling point among players who have become increasingly frustrated with the nickel-and-dime tactics employed by many modern titles. More than in terms of its gameplay, Space Marine 2 feels like a throwback to the gaming landscape of the early 2010s, when players could expect a complete experience at launch without needing constant updates or additional purchases.
Saber Interactive has ambitious plans to support and expand Space Marine 2 past 2024. Players can look forward to free content drops that will introduce new enemy types, weapons, maps, and even difficulty modes. A major expansion titled “Battle Barge” is also in the works for next year, promising to keep fans engaged for the long haul.
Speaking of games that don’t quite fit the mold of today’s titles, have you played Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP yet? The game, which features one of the weirdest video game sidekicks, is earning praise from fans for standing against censorship, with its developers doubling down on their intention to release the remake as intended, warts and all, in a recent statement.
