Space Marine 2 Patch Improves on Fan Feedback

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Hotfix 4.1 Addresses Player Concerns After Patch 4.0 Backlash

Following significant player backlash over last week's Patch 4.0, Saber Interactive is releasing hotfix 4.1 on October 24th. This update directly addresses the controversial nerfs introduced in Patch 4.0.

The Developer Response and Public Test Servers

In response to negative player feedback and Steam review bombing, Saber Interactive announced the reversal of the "most pressing" balance changes from Patch 4.0. Game director Dmitriy Grigorenko stated that the team is actively monitoring player feedback and intends to implement Public Test Servers in early 2025 to prevent similar issues in the future.

Patch 4.0's Intent and Unintended Consequences

The developers explained that Patch 4.0 aimed to increase enemy spawns across all difficulties to increase challenge, rather than simply increasing enemy health. However, this change negatively impacted the lower difficulty settings.

Hotfix 4.1 Reversals and Buffs

Hotfix 4.1 will revert several key changes:

• Enemy Spawns: Extremis enemy spawn rates on Minimal, Average, and Substantial difficulties will return to pre-Patch 4.0 levels. Ruthless difficulty will see a significant reduction in spawns.

• Player Armor: A 10% armor increase for Ruthless difficulty.

• Bot AI: Bots will deal 30% more damage to bosses.

• Bolt Weapon Buff: A comprehensive buff to the entire Bolt weapon family to address their underperformance across all difficulty levels. Specific increases are detailed below:

  • Auto Bolt Rifle: +20% Damage
  • Bolt Rifle: +10% Damage
  • Heavy Bolt Rifle: +15% Damage
  • Stalker Bolt Rifle: +10% Damage
  • Marksman Bolt Carbine: +10% Damage
  • Instigator Bolt Carbine: +10% Damage
  • Bolt Sniper Rifle: +12.5% Damage
  • Bolt Carbine: +15% Damage
  • Occulus Bolt Carbine: +15% Damage
  • Heavy Bolter: +5% Damage (x2)

Ongoing Monitoring and Future Plans

Saber Interactive will continue monitoring player feedback post-Patch 4.1 to ensure the Lethal difficulty remains appropriately challenging and rewarding. The introduction of Public Test Servers in 2025 aims to proactively address balance issues and incorporate player feedback before major updates.