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 regarding events perceived as promoting "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out). FOMO is a strategy commonly employed by live service games to spur immediate player engagement and expenditure on time-limited virtual items, suggesting that missing out on these items now means losing the chance forever.
This approach has been criticized for fostering an unhealthy dynamic between games and their communities. A 2021 study commissioned by the UK's GambleAware charity highlighted that many games utilize "psychological nudges" to encourage purchases of loot boxes, often leveraging the fear of missing out on limited-time offers.
While *Space Marine 2* does not feature loot boxes, it introduced community events as a means to unlock exclusive cosmetics, sparking a backlash and leading some to label the game as a "live service." In response, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive acknowledged the "cold feedback" and concerns about FOMO. They reassured players that items from these events would be made available again in the future, ensuring that everyone has a chance to obtain them. Their statement emphasized that community events are intended to allow dedicated players to access items early, not to cause frustration or stress.
The companies also apologized for any difficulties in unlocking these items and are working on simplifying the process to enhance the player experience. As a gesture of goodwill, 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 accessible to those who achieved victories with all six classes in Operations Mode by the deadline.
Currently, *Space Marine 2* players are eagerly anticipating the 7.0 update, which promises to 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 their plans for the game's future.
*Space Marine 2* achieved a record-breaking launch last year, selling 5 million copies and becoming the fastest-selling Warhammer video game to date.
