"Space Marine 2 System Requirements Disappoint Fans"

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's gory arrival on PC has stirred up a storm among fans, primarily due to the mandatory inclusion of Epic Online Services (EOS). Dive into the details of the developers' statements and the ensuing fan backlash.

Space Marine 2 Requires EOS for Crossplay, Despite Fan Opposition

The launch of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has sparked significant controversy over the game's requirement to install Epic Online Services (EOS). Despite assurances from Focus Entertainment, the game's publisher, that linking Steam and Epic accounts is not necessary, Epic Games has emphasized the necessity of crossplay for multiplayer titles on their store.

An Epic Games spokesperson explained to Eurogamer, "Cross-play across all PC storefronts is a requirement of the Epic Games Store for all multiplayer games, ensuring that players and friends can play together wherever they purchase their games. Developers are free to choose any solutions that meet this requirement, including Epic Online Services, which may require a secondary installation to enable the Social Overlay (friends list, cross-platform invites, etc.) on PC."

This policy means that developers must include EOS if they wish to list their games on the Epic store and enable crossplay across different PC platforms. While developers aren't forced to use EOS, it's often the easiest and cost-free option for meeting Epic's crossplay requirements.

Fan Outcry Over EOS

While some players appreciate the ability to engage in crossplay, many have voiced strong objections to the mandatory installation of EOS. Concerns include fears of "spyware," privacy issues related to the lengthy End User License Agreement (EULA), and a general aversion to using the Epic Games launcher.

The backlash led to Space Marine 2 being review-bombed on Steam upon its release, with most negative feedback focusing on the unannounced installation of EOS. The confusion and concerns over the EULA, particularly regarding personal data collection (applicable in certain regions only), have amplified the negative sentiment.

It's worth noting that Space Marine 2 isn't the only game using EOS; nearly a thousand other titles, including popular games like Hades, Elden Ring, and Hogwarts Legacy, also employ the service. Given that Unreal Engine, a widely-used game development tool owned by Epic, often integrates EOS, its widespread use is understandable.

The negative reviews targeting Space Marine 2's use of EOS raise the question of whether they reflect a broader concern about an industry-standard practice or are simply a knee-jerk reaction.

Ultimately, players have the choice to uninstall EOS, though doing so means forgoing crossplay with players outside of Steam. Despite the controversy, Space Marine 2 has received high praise, with Game8 awarding it a score of 92, calling it a "near-perfect representation of what it means to be a zealous Space Marine under the Empire of Man and an amazing sequel to the 2011 third-person shooter." For a detailed analysis, check out our full review.