"Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Dev Rejects Live Service Model Amid 'FOMO' Backlash"

The developers and publishers behind 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 backlash from the community regarding events that were perceived as promoting "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out).

FOMO is a common strategy employed by developers of live service games to drive immediate engagement and expenditure on time-limited virtual items. The underlying message is that if players don't acquire these items during the event window, they might never have another opportunity.

This approach has been widely criticized for fostering an unhealthy dynamic between games and their player base. A 2021 study commissioned by the UK's GambleAware charity highlighted how games often employ "psychological nudges" to encourage purchases of loot boxes, with FOMO being a key tactic. While Space Marine 2 does not feature loot boxes, it has introduced community events aimed at unlocking exclusive cosmetics, sparking concerns and leading some to label it as a live service game.

In response to the feedback, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, and developer, Saber Interactive, acknowledged the "cold feedback" on these community events. They emphasized in a statement that their intention is not to convert Space Marine 2 into a full live service game. They assured players that items available during these events would be accessible to everyone at a later date, stating, "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."

The companies also admitted that the process of unlocking items during these events has not been smooth and apologized for any inconvenience. They are working on simplifying the process to enhance the overall experience.

As a gesture of goodwill, Focus Entertainment is offering the Mk VIII Errant Helmet, previously part of the Imperial Vigil community event, for free to all players who link their PROS account to Space Marine 2. This event, which ends on March 3, originally required players to achieve a victory with each of six classes in Operations Mode to earn the helmet.

Players are currently anticipating the 7.0 update for Space Marine 2, which will introduce a new weapon, a new Operations map, and PvE Prestige Ranks. Last month, Focus and Saber addressed community concerns about content scarcity and shared their roadmap for the game's future updates.

Space Marine 2 achieved a remarkable launch, selling 5 million copies and setting a record as the fastest-selling Warhammer video game ever.