The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Yes—Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 experienced a real but short-lived Steam review backlash in September 2024. The immediate trigger was the game installing or prompting the installation of Epic Online Services (EOS) during its early-access period. That was widely confused with the Epic Games Store, but the evidence does not show that the full Epic storefront launcher was forced onto Steam users.
Focus Entertainment said EOS supported cross-play and friend-list synchronization, and that linking a Steam account to an Epic account was optional. The controversy affected the game’s launch-week rating, but it did not permanently define its reception: the Steam listing showed 86% positive English reviews across approximately 94,800 reviews in the latest available snapshot checked on August 16, 2026.
Why Space Marine 2’s Steam rating suddenly fell
The backlash began on September 5, 2024, when eligible editions entered early access. Steam players reported that launching the game triggered the installation of Epic Online Services. Negative reviews quickly appeared, citing Epic branding, third-party software, privacy and EULA concerns, and what players saw as inadequate disclosure before installation.
The timing mattered. The standard edition launched on September 9, 2024, so the initial wave arrived before the full release and was highly visible while the game’s Steam review total was still relatively small. Contemporary reports described the rating as “Mixed,” although the exact percentage varied by snapshot, language filter, and whether Steam was displaying recent or all reviews.
#1 Best Overall
- Embody the superhuman skill and brutality of a Space Marine. Unleash deadly abilities and devastating weaponry to obliterate the relentless Tyranid swarms. Defend the Imperium in spectacular third-person action in solo or co-op modes.
- Purge the relentless Tyranid swarms as legendary Space Marine Titus in a spectacular new campaign. Play solo or with up to 2 friends in 3 player co-op.
- Enjoy intense, gory and fast-paced third-person action with hundreds of enemies on screen, from the creators of blockbuster co-op shooter World War Z.
- Standard edition includes: Base game, Macragge’s Chosen DLC, with 3 unique cosmetics for your Bolt Rifle, Chainsword & Power Armour
Not every negative review was about EOS. Some players also reported crashes, connection failures, overlay conflicts, and other launch problems. EOS was the most prominent shared complaint in early coverage, but treating every negative review as part of one coordinated campaign would be inaccurate.
Focus addressed the issue publicly on September 6–7. Its explanation is documented in its support response and official FAQ.
Did Space Marine 2 install the Epic Games Store?
No—not according to the available evidence. The component at the center of the dispute was Epic Online Services, not the Epic Games Store launcher.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
EOS is a collection of online-platform services that can provide functions such as cross-platform networking and social features. Epic’s support documentation describes EOS as a local component used for cross-platform and social functionality. That explanation should not be read as proof that the Space Marine 2 installation was identical to installing the Epic Games Launcher.
The practical distinction is important:
- Epic Online Services: an online-service component used by a game.
- Epic Games Store: Epic’s separate PC storefront and launcher.
Players were still entitled to object to any unanticipated third-party component being added to a Steam installation. But “Space Marine 2 installed the Epic Games Store” is a materially less precise description of what happened.
Was an Epic account required?
Focus Entertainment said that Steam–Epic account linking was optional and would not affect a player’s ability to enjoy the game. The publisher specifically described EOS as supporting optional cross-play between Steam and Epic players and synchronizing friend lists between the two stores.
Rank #2
- Easy to use
- Value for money
- Durable & Design
That does not mean Space Marine 2 had no online-service requirements. Multiplayer and online progression still depend on online infrastructure, and different features can have different requirements. The accurate claim is narrower: Focus said players did not have to link their Steam and Epic accounts.
Focus’s FAQ also explained that cross-play extended across PC and consoles, with platform-specific restrictions for PvP. Players could disable cross-play if they preferred to remain with players on the same platform.
Why players objected even if account linking was optional
Disclosure and consent
For many players, the central issue was not whether an Epic account was mandatory. It was that EOS reportedly appeared during installation or first launch without being clearly understood beforehand. A third-party EULA or disclosure may satisfy a formal requirement, but players can still regard the timing or presentation as inadequate if the practical consequence is not obvious before they buy and install the game.
Distrust of Epic software on Steam
Some PC players object to Epic software being installed alongside a game purchased through Steam as a matter of principle. That reaction reflects platform competition, previous concerns about launchers and account ecosystems, and a preference for keeping a Steam purchase technically self-contained.
Privacy and EULA concerns
Several reviews raised questions about third-party terms and data processing. Those are legitimate subjects for scrutiny, but they should remain framed as player concerns. The available evidence does not establish unlawful data collection or prove that EOS was malicious.
Launch-day technical problems
Focus’s contemporary support material also mentioned crashes and compatibility issues involving overlays such as RivaTuner, Nvidia overlays, and Afterburner, unsupported Windows versions, incorrect GPU selection, and connection failures. Those historical reports help explain why the launch-week rating was volatile, but old workarounds should not be treated as guaranteed fixes in 2026 without current support documentation.
Rank #3
- Askar’s Wolfpack is a group of ferocious Fenrisians led by Fyrri Askar, a Wolf Guard Battle Leader. He takes charge of 10 impulsive Blood Claws, 5 Wolf Guard Terminators and 5 Bestial Wulfen.
- Box also contains a Space Wolves transfer sheet with 419 decals.
- These mini figures are unpainted and needs to be assembled. We recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel Paints.
What was Epic Online Services used for?
Focus identified two specific purposes in its public explanation:
- Optional cross-play between Steam and Epic players.
- Friend-list synchronization between the two stores.
The wider game supports online co-op and online PvP, as well as cross-platform multiplayer involving PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Cross-play does not mean every mode places every platform into one unrestricted matchmaking pool; Focus’s FAQ describes platform-specific PvP restrictions and the ability to disable cross-play.
There was also a broader business context. On September 11, 2024, Epic reportedly told Eurogamer that cross-play support was required for multiplayer games sold through the Epic Games Store, according to PC Gamer’s coverage. That helps explain why a game available through both PC storefronts used Epic’s cross-platform services, although it does not settle the separate question of whether the disclosure to Steam buyers was good enough.
Was this really a review bomb?
“Review bombing” is not a formal Steam category, so the term requires qualification. The evidence supports calling this a brief review-bombing episode or issue-driven review backlash because a visible burst of negative reviews appeared soon after early access began, many focused on EOS rather than the game’s core mechanics, and the overall rating recovered as the review count grew.
There are limits to what can be claimed. There is no reliable figure in the supplied evidence for the exact number or percentage of EOS-related reviews. The early rating snapshots circulated by players and media differed, and Steam’s aggregate can change depending on language, timeframe, and review filter. Nor should the label imply that all participants were acting dishonestly: some players had genuine objections to third-party software and disclosure, while others were reacting to technical launch issues.
PC Gamer described the early negative wave as primarily connected to EOS and reported that it was not large enough to create a lasting impact on the game’s reception. The subsequent review history supports that broader conclusion.
Rank #4
What is Space Marine 2’s Steam rating now?
As of the Steam page snapshot checked on August 16, 2026, Space Marine 2 had approximately 86% positive English reviews from about 94,800 reviews. See the live Steam listing for the current figure.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThis is a time-stamped signal, not a permanent statistic. Steam’s percentage and review count change continuously, and results can differ by language and by the “recent reviews” or “all reviews” view. Still, the direction is clear: the launch-week dip was diluted by a much larger body of later reviews and did not leave the game with a permanently negative Steam consensus.
Should you buy the Steam version?
Buy on Steam if:
- You want the convenience of your existing Steam library, achievements, Cloud features, and refund system.
- You are comfortable with EOS being part of the PC installation.
- You mainly want the campaign or are happy to use the game’s online infrastructure for multiplayer.
Think twice if:
- Any third-party online-services component beside a Steam game is a hard red line.
- You object specifically to Epic’s software ecosystem, regardless of whether account linking is optional.
- You expected a completely offline installation for multiplayer-related modes.
Consider another platform if: the Steam-specific installation concern is decisive. The Epic Games Store version avoids the surprise of encountering Epic services through a Steam installation, but it does not remove Epic’s ecosystem or online infrastructure. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S avoid the Steam-specific controversy, while changing the platform, controls, performance profile, and storefront refund rules.
For campaign-focused players, Focus said campaign progression could be saved offline. Operations progression, however, required an online connection for progress to be retained between sessions. That makes offline campaign play a useful option, but not a replacement for the game’s online co-op and Operations experience.
Prices and editions are separate buying decisions. The Epic product page previously showed a $59.99 base-price signal, while the listed discounts observed in July 2026 had already expired by the August 16 reference date. Check the official Epic page or Steam listing for the live regional price. The 2-Year Anniversary Edition includes the base game and two season passes according to its product page; the Season Pass is additional content rather than a requirement for the principal game modes.
The bottom line on the Steam backlash
Space Marine 2 was briefly review-bombed—or, more cautiously, hit by a concentrated review backlash—during its September 2024 early-access and launch period. The controversy centered on the installation and communication of Epic Online Services, not evidence that Steam users were forced to install the full Epic Games Store. Focus said Epic account linking was optional, and the current Steam rating indicates that the incident did not permanently damage the game’s overall reputation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
