Space Marine 2 Patch Restores Features After Fan Outcry

Space Marine 2 Implements Hotfix 4.1 and Announces Public Test Servers in Response to Fan Backlash

In the wake of significant community feedback, Space Marine 2 is set to release hotfix 4.1 on October 24. This update comes after the controversial Patch 4.0, which introduced nerfs that stirred frustration among players. In response, developers Saber Interactive have announced plans to launch Public Test Servers in early 2025, aiming to better integrate player feedback into future updates.

Changes Reverted Starting October 24

With the upcoming Patch 4.1, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will revert the "most pressing" balance changes introduced in Patch 4.0. "We’ve been closely monitoring your feedback since the release of Patch 4.0 last Thursday and have decided to address your most pressing concerns with a new balancing update, arriving this Thursday," stated game director Dmitriy Grigorenko. He emphasized the importance of community input, which is why they are planning to introduce Public Test Servers in early 2025.

The backlash against Patch 4.0 led to negative review bombings on the game's Steam page, with one review humorously referencing the Helldivers 2 nerf controversy: "Saber Interactive saw the Helldivers 2 nerf controversy and must have said to themselves 'Yeah, let's nerf the fun like Arrowhead Studios did.' This is a classic Spongebob 'How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?' moment."

In a subsequent community update, Saber Interactive explained that Patch 4.0 was intended to address feedback that the game had become too easy, even at its highest difficulty setting. "With Patch 4.0, our goal was to adjust enemy spawns to increase their overall number rather than buffing their Health," they clarified. However, this adjustment inadvertently affected easier difficulty levels as well.

As part of the reversion, Extremis enemies’ spawn rates will return to pre-Patch 4.0 levels across Minimal, Average, and Substantial difficulties, with a significant reduction in Ruthless difficulty. Additionally, player armor will see a 10% increase at Ruthless difficulty, and bots will deal 30% more damage to bosses.

The upcoming hotfix 4.1, set to release today, will also include comprehensive buffs to Bolt weapons, addressing their underperformance across all difficulty levels. Here are the detailed changes:

• Auto Bolt Rifle: Damage increased by 20%
• Bolt Rifle: Damage increased by 10%
• Heavy Bolt Rifle: Damage increased by 15%
• Stalker Bolt Rifle: Damage increased by 10%
• Marksman Bolt Carbine: Damage increased by 10%
• Instigator Bolt Carbine: Damage increased by 10%
• Bolt Sniper Rifle: Damage increased by 12.5%
• Bolt Carbine: Damage increased by 15%
• Occulus Bolt Carbine: Damage increased by 15%
• Heavy Bolter: Damage increased by 5%

"We will continue to monitor your feedback after the deployment of Patch 4.1 to ensure that Lethal difficulty remains both challenging and rewarding," Grigorenko concluded.