Playable Version of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Leaks Online

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has leaked online ahead of its official release, with players able to experience an older build of the game from start to finish. Focus Entertainment, the publisher, has expressed disappointment over the leak and is taking action against YouTube channels sharing content from the leaked version. The leaked build is believed to be from June 20 and could have been intended for a canceled open beta, causing frustration for the publisher and developers as they work to address the unauthorized distribution of the game.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Leak Hits Before Official Release

A playable build of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has leaked online and can already be found on various piracy sites. Although it's an incomplete and old game version, it appears to be playable from start to finish. This leak occurred two months before the official release of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, scheduled for September 9.

Last week, publisher Focus Entertainment announced that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 had gone gold, meaning development was complete, and the game was ready for release. With the game in the gold state, it seemed sure that there would be no further delays, and fans would only have to wait two more months before returning to the role of Ultramarine Titus as he faced threats from the Tyranids alongside a new squad. Unfortunately, bad news traveled faster than the game's release.

An old Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 build leaked online, and it has already spread thin among several torrent websites. According to Reddit users, the leaked version is 75 GB and was initially leaked on the 4chan forum. Although elements of the game are missing and filled with placeholders, the game's campaign can be played from start to finish, with support even for the new co-op Operations mode and local PvP, but without bots. For now, it's unclear who was responsible for the leak.

Focus Entertainment Responds to Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Leak

Focus Entertainment has commented on social media, expressing regret over the incident and appreciating the community's support. According to the publisher, "It's disheartening that many of the surprises we worked to keep secret were spoiled." To prevent this, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive, the developer of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, are pursuing YouTube channels that post videos of the game using this version, taking down the content and even the channels themselves, citing copyright violations.

This leaked version of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 appears to be a build from June 20, which could have been the version of the game intended for the canceled Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 open beta. In any case, it's a shame for the publisher and all the developers involved with the game. Leaks in the gaming industry have been occurring more frequently lately, with high-profile incidents like the Grand Theft Auto 6 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaks in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Companies have reported how these leaks have affected everyone involved with the games, but it's unlikely to prevent future occurrences.

The gaming industry has been grappling with an increased frequency of leaks in recent years. In 2022, the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 suffered one of the biggest leaks in the industry, with various videos and screenshots of an in-development build being distributed online. Then, in 2023, Nintendo became a target when physical editions of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom were shipped early by retailers and quickly distributed for download. While companies have expressed the harm these leaks have caused, it seems unlikely that the industry will be able to completely prevent such incidents from happening in the future.