Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is around the corner from a significant update designed to address concerns from players about its difficulty levels, which many found to be excessively challenging after the last patch.
Developer Saber Interactive announced that Patch 4.1 is scheduled for release on Thursday, October 24. This update will include a variety of adjustments along with clarification on the controversial changes introduced in Patch 4.0. Game director Dmitriy Grigorenko expressed appreciation for the player feedback in a statement at the start of the patch notes and provided insight into the reasons behind the changes that were met with disapproval.
One of the primary issues was the Ruthless difficulty setting. Many players reported it felt too easy following Patch 4.0, leading to a notable rise in win rates. Consequently, developers have decided to increase the spawn rates of Extremis enemies while also decreasing their armor by 15%.
Grigorenko commented, “The armor adjustment was made last week because we observed a sharp increase in win rates on Ruthless after Patch 3.0.” The increase in enemy spawn rates emerged as a major concern, amplifying the challenge even on lower difficulty settings.
Player feedback highlighted that the game had grown more intense and stressful at lower levels—a dynamic not intended by the developers. As Grigorenko has emphasized in various interviews, Space Marine 2 is about the power fantasy, and the preceding patch altered that feeling for many players. To address this, the team has opted to revert many of these changes.
Several of the updates will return the game to its pre-Patch 4.0 state, though Saber will continue to seek a more balanced approach to challenge and player experience.
One notable enhancement in Patch 4.1 includes buffs to Bolt weapons in Operations mode, as they have been underperforming and are particularly cherished within the Warhammer community. Detailed notes of all the changes can be found in the update announcements, with most weapons seeing an increase in damage output.
Additionally, Saber has opted to remove the Tight Formation system that was introduced for the highest difficulty in Operations mode. This system mandated a proximity requirement for team members during co-op play, a change that didn’t resonate well with the community. Grigorenko explained that the system was initially implemented as a preliminary step towards introducing gameplay modifiers due to the lack of more difficulty tiers, but it ultimately constrained some classes too heavily.
In order to better address player concerns regarding future patches, Space Marine 2 will introduce public test servers in early 2025. This initiative will allow players to provide feedback on potential adjustments. This approach aligns with the methods utilized in Helldivers 2, where developers also made improvements after recognizing budget sink issues that affected player enjoyment.
