"Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Dev Clarifies No Live Service, Eases 'FOMO' Concerns"

The developers and publishers of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 have made it clear that they are not aiming to transform the game into a "full live service" model following a backlash from the community over events perceived to foster "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out). FOMO is a common strategy used by live service game developers to encourage immediate player engagement and spending on time-limited virtual items, suggesting that missing out on these items could lead to permanent loss.

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 how many games utilize "psychological nudges" like FOMO to push players towards purchasing loot boxes. Although Space Marine 2 does not include loot boxes, the introduction of community events for unlocking exclusive cosmetics has sparked controversy and led some to label the game as adopting live service tactics.

In response to the backlash, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, and developer, Saber Interactive, acknowledged the negative reception to these events. They admitted to the community's concerns about FOMO and reassured players that all items from these events would be made available again in the future for everyone. The companies emphasized that the intention behind the community events was to allow dedicated players to unlock items earlier, not to create a source of frustration or stress.

Focus Entertainment has taken steps to address these issues by offering the Mk VIII Errant Helmet without the emblem 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 ends on March 3 and was initially only accessible to those who achieved victories with each of the six classes in Operations Mode before the deadline.

As the community awaits the 7.0 update, which promises a new weapon, a new Operations map, and PvE Prestige Ranks, Focus and Saber have also addressed the growing discontent over the game's content pace. They have outlined what players can expect from Space Marine 2 in the coming months.

Despite these challenges, Space Marine 2 achieved a record-breaking launch last year, selling 5 million copies and becoming the fastest-selling Warhammer video game to date.