Space Marine 2 PC Specs Disappoint Gamers

Space Marine 2 Epic Games Requirements Irk Fans

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s bloody arrival on PC has been met with a surprising new foe that fans want removed from the game: EOS! Read on to learn more about the developers’ statements on the matter and the resulting backlash.

Space Marine 2 Requires EOS for Crossplay, Despite Fan ResistanceEOS is Mandatory, According to Epic

Space Marine 2 Epic Games Requirements Irk Fans

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has faced criticism since its release. The main issue? The game's compulsory installation of Epic Online Services (EOS), despite players' crossplay preferences.

Focus Entertainment, the game's publisher, recently stated on their website that "linking your Steam and Epic account is unnecessary for single-player enjoyment," but Epic Games informed Eurogamer that crossplay is vital for multiplayer games on the Epic Games Store. This policy seemingly necessitates EOS in Space Marine 2, even for Steam users uninterested in this functionality.

Space Marine 2 Epic Games Requirements Irk Fans

"Cross-platform play across all PC digital stores is a mandate of the Epic Games Store for all multiplayer titles, ensuring that gamers and their friends can play together regardless of where they acquire their games," said an Epic Games representative, according to Eurogamer. "Developers are free to select any solutions that satisfy this mandate, including Epic Online Services, which might necessitate a supplementary installation to enable the Social Overlay (friends list, cross-platform invitations, etc.) on PC."

Here’s the core of the matter: Developers aren’t compelled to utilize EOS, but if they desire their games on the Epic store and offer cross-platform play across PC digital stores, EOS becomes the only practical option. For many developers, it’s the easiest approach—EOS offers pre-built solutions that meet Epic’s stipulations. Furthermore, it’s free to use!

Fan Backlash Over EOS

Space Marine 2 Epic Games Requirements Irk Fans

Some gamers embrace the prospect of crossplay, but others have voiced strong objections to EOS’ mandatory installation. This dissatisfaction stems from several factors. One concern is the perception of "spyware" being installed, with some players uncomfortable about the extra software needed to play the game. Additionally, some users simply prefer to bypass the Epic Games’ launcher entirely.

Due to these concerns, Space Marine 2 was review-bombed on Steam upon its release, with most reviews focusing on the game’s unannounced installation of EOS, despite EOS being a separate service from Epic Games’ launcher. The extensive End User License Agreement (EULA) associated with EOS has also sparked privacy worries. The ambiguity surrounding the EULA, especially concerning personal data collection (which only applies to certain regions), further intensified the negative response.

However, Space Marine 2 is not unique in using EOS and its EULA. In fact, almost a thousand games, including Hades, Elden Ring, Satisfactory, Dead by Daylight, Palworld, Hogwarts Legacy, and many others, utilize the service. Given that Unreal Engine, a popular game development engine, is owned by Epic and often incorporates EOS, it’s understandable that many games use it.

So, when considering the negative reviews targeting Space Marine 2’s use of EOS, it’s worth assessing whether they’re simply impulsive reactions or a legitimate worry about a prevalent industry standard.

Space Marine 2 Epic Games Requirements Irk Fans

Ultimately, the decision whether or not to install EOS in Space Marine 2 rests with each player. EOS can still be removed. But be warned: removing EOS means losing crossplay with non-Steam users.

Despite the negative reception, Space Marine 2 continues to impress. Game8 awarded the game a score of 92, praising it as a "near-perfect portrayal of a zealous Space Marine under the Imperium of Man and an amazing sequel to the 2011 third-person shooter." For a more detailed look at our opinion on Space Marine 2, be sure to check out our full review!