The recent closure of Concord, a live-service game, has left many feeling a sense of déjà vu. Its shutdown coincides with the release of the highly acclaimed single-player game, Astro Bot, and the launch of another multiplayer title that’s already gaining traction – Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. This sci-fi shooter, available for those who purchased special editions, stands out for its refreshing approach to multiplayer. With a gripping story campaign, cooperative gameplay, and competitive modes, Space Marine 2 offers a nostalgic throwback to the era of multiplayer games that popularized franchises like Gears of War and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
The success of live-service games like Fortnite and Overwatch has led many developers to mimic their structure, often resulting in a lack of originality. While Concord attempted to follow this trend, it ultimately failed to stand out from the crowd. Its menus, content, and gameplay mechanics felt uninspired and derivative of other popular titles, lacking the unique features and experiences that would draw players in. Unlike Space Marine 2, which embraces a more traditional approach to multiplayer, Concord offered a limited selection of hero shooter modes, neglecting to provide any campaign or PvE content. This one-dimensional approach, lacking the depth and variety of its predecessors, contributed significantly to its downfall.
Space Marine 2, however, thrives on its departure from the prevailing live-service model. It embraces the classic approach of offering a single-player campaign and a robust online multiplayer experience, reminiscent of the gaming landscape during the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era. While this model was not always successful, as evidenced by the lackluster multiplayer mode in Spec Ops: The Line, it birthed some of the most iconic gaming franchises, including Call of Duty. The industry has since shifted towards the live-service model, with games like Overwatch, Destiny, and Fortnite setting the standard for online experiences. This shift has led to a focus on multiplayer content at the expense of campaign development, as the financial incentives lie in maintaining a steady stream of microtransactions and online engagement.
Space Marine 2 bucks this trend by offering a diverse range of gameplay experiences. It presents players with three distinct modes: the immersive Campaign mode, the 6v6 competitive multiplayer Eternal War, and the cooperative Operations mode. This variety caters to different player preferences, allowing single-player enthusiasts to enjoy the game’s compelling storyline, cooperative gamers to team up with friends, and competitive players to test their skills against others. While the competitive modes in Eternal War might not be groundbreaking in terms of originality, they offer a welcome change of pace within the confines of the game. Both Eternal War and Operations incorporate class and progression systems that complement the Campaign experience, further enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
Space Marine 2 provides a compelling reason for players to engage with the game and invest their time, unlike Concord, which failed to offer a compelling reason for players to stick around. In today’s gaming landscape, both traditional and live-service multiplayer experiences have their place. Live-service games face the challenge of standing out in a crowded marketplace, requiring a significant amount of content and engagement to keep players invested. Premium-priced multiplayer games, however, have the opportunity to learn from the past and embrace the model that has proven successful for years. By offering a variety of content and engaging players with diverse gameplay options, games like Space Marine 2 can attract players and keep them coming back for more. Space Marine 2 is now available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S for owners of its special editions. The standard edition will be released on these platforms on September 9th.
