Space Marine 2 Faces Review Bombing on Steam

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 recently fell victim to a review-bombing campaign on Steam. Although the effort briefly impacted the game’s overall user rating, the title has since largely recovered.

The highly anticipated sequel to Relic Entertainment’s 2011 third-person shooter is set for an official release on Monday, September 9. However, players who pre-ordered one of the premium editions have had early access since September 5.

Why Space Marine 2 Was Review-Bombed: Epic Online Services and Privacy Concerns

While Space Marine 2 garnered positive reviews from critics, early player reception has been more divided. Upon release, the game was initially rated "Mixed" on Steam, with many early adopters leaving negative feedback. The complaints stemmed from the game's reliance on Epic Online Services and concerns over its end-user license agreement (EULA), which some players found intrusive in terms of privacy.

The main issue was that Space Marine 2 installs Epic Online Services without directly informing players. This system is crucial for providing cross-platform multiplayer functionality. However, its presence led to a wave of frustration among users who felt blindsided by the installation.

Game Rant's review of the EULA points out that it is quite similar to those of other Saber Interactive titles, such as Teardown, SnowRunner, and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. Like many modern multiplayer games, Space Marine 2 requires players to agree to the collection of demographic data and in-game statistics. While this type of data collection is now common practice, the lack of transparency regarding Epic Online Services sparked a backlash.

Space Marine 2’s Steam Rating Rebounds After Early Access

As of September 7, Space Marine 2's rating on Steam had improved to "Mostly Positive," with a 76% player recommendation rate—just shy of earning a "Positive" label. The initial uproar over the EULA and the hidden installation of Epic Online Services has largely subsided. Now, most negative reviews focus on newly identified bugs in the game.

Meanwhile, the game's critical reception has been excellent. Its strong performance on OpenCritic, where it boasts an 89% reviewer recommendation rate and an aggregate score of 83, reflects its high quality. Despite early turbulence, Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 is well on its way to being a hit among both critics and players.