Space Marine 2 Epic Games Requirements Irk Fans

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's brutal PC debut has sparked unexpected controversy. The culprit? Epic Online Services (EOS). Let's delve into the developers' statements and the resulting player backlash.

Space Marine 2's Mandatory EOS: Crossplay's Unexpected Price

EOS: A Requirement, According to Epic

Since its release, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has faced significant criticism over its mandatory Epic Online Services (EOS) integration, regardless of whether players want crossplay.

While publisher Focus Entertainment clarified on their website that linking Steam and Epic accounts isn't necessary for single-player enjoyment, Epic Games told Eurogamer that crossplay is mandatory for all multiplayer titles on the Epic Games Store. This policy necessitates EOS inclusion in Space Marine 2, even for Steam users uninterested in crossplay.

An Epic Games spokesperson stated to Eurogamer, "Cross-play across all PC storefronts is a requirement of the Epic Games Store for all multiplayer games, ensuring players and friends can play together regardless of where they bought the game. 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."

The core issue: Developers aren't forced to use EOS, but crossplay across PC platforms on the Epic Games Store necessitates it. For many, EOS, with its readily available solutions and free usage, is the easiest path to compliance.

Player Backlash Against EOS

While some welcome crossplay, widespread opposition to EOS's mandatory installation exists. Concerns range from perceived "spyware" to a general aversion to the Epic Games launcher. The extensive EOS EULA, particularly the clauses regarding data collection (region-specific), further fueled the negative sentiment.

This resulted in a wave of negative Steam reviews, primarily focused on EOS's unannounced inclusion—a separate service from the Epic Games launcher itself.

However, Space Marine 2 isn't alone in using EOS and its EULA. Hundreds of games, including Hades, Elden Ring, Satisfactory, Dead by Daylight, Palworld, Hogwarts Legacy, and many others, utilize the service. Given Epic's ownership of the popular Unreal Engine and its frequent EOS integration, this widespread adoption is unsurprising.

The question remains: are the negative reviews solely knee-jerk reactions, or a legitimate concern about a prevalent industry practice?

Ultimately, installing EOS is a player's choice. It's removable, but removing it means sacrificing crossplay functionality outside of Steam.

Despite the controversy, Space Marine 2 continues to impress. Game8 awarded it a 92, praising it as a "near-perfect representation of what it means to be a zealous Space Marine under the Empire of Man and is an amazing sequel to the 2011 third-person shooter." For a detailed review, check out our full analysis!