Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s gory arrival on PC has been met with a surprising new enemy that fans want removed from the game: EOS! Read on to learn more about the developers’ statements regarding the matter and the backlash that ensued.
Space Marine 2 Requires EOS for Crossplay, Despite Fan Opposition
EOS is Mandatory, According to Epic
Warhammer 40:000: Space Marine 2 has been embroiled in controversy since its launch. The center of the dispute? The game’s mandatory installation of Epic Online Services (EOS), regardless of their desire for crossplay.
While Focus Entertainment, the game’s publisher, clarified a couple of days ago on their website that "linking your Steam and Epic account is not required to enjoy the game," Epic Games recently told Eurogamer that crossplay is an essential requirement for multiplayer titles on the Epic Games Store. This policy seemingly dictates the inclusion of EOS in Space Marine 2, even for players who purchased the game on Steam and have no interest in the feature.
"Cross-play across all PC storefronts is a requirement of the Epic Games Store for all multiplayer games, ensuring that players and friends can play together wherever they purchase their games," said an Epic Games spokesperson, according to Eurogamer. "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."
Here’s the crux of the issue: Developers aren’t obligated to use EOS, but if they want their games on the Epic store and offer crossplay across PC storefronts, EOS becomes the only viable option. For many developers, it’s the path of least resistance—EOS provides ready-made solutions that fulfill Epic’s requirements. In addition to this, it’s free to use!
Fan Outcry Over EOS
Some gamers welcome the prospect of crossplay, but others have expressed strong disapproval over EOS’ mandatory installation. This discontent stems from several factors. One concern is the perception of "spyware" being installed with some players uneasy about the additional software required to play the game. Additionally, some users simply prefer to avoid the Epic Games’ launcher altogether.
Due to these concerns, Space Marine 2 was review-bombed on Steam on its release, with the vast majority of the reviews being about the game’s unannounced installation of EOS, despite EOS being a separate service from Epic Games’ launcher. The lengthy End User License Agreement (EULA) associated with EOS has also raised privacy concerns. The confusion surrounding the EULA, particularly regarding personal information collection (which only applies to specific regions), further fueled the negativity.
However, Space Marine 2 is not alone in utilizing EOS and its EULA. In fact, nearly a thousand games, including Hades, Elden Ring, Satisfactory, Dead by Daylight, Palworld, Hogwarts Legacy, and many others, employ the service. Given that Unreal Engine, a popular game development tool, is owned by Epic and often integrates EOS, it’s understandable that a significant number of games make use of it.
So, when it comes to the negative reviews targeting Space Marine 2’s use of EOS, it’s worth considering whether they’re simply knee-jerk reactions or a genuine concern about a widespread industry practice.
Ultimately, the decision whether or not to install EOS in Space Marine 2 rests within the individual player. EOS can still be uninstalled. But be warned: ditching EOS means sacrificing crossplay with players outside of Steam.
Despite all the backlash the game received, Space Marine 2 continues to impress. Game8 awarded the game a score of 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 more in-depth look at our thoughts on Space Marine 2, be sure to check out our full review!
Source:
Eurogamer: Space Marine 2's Epic Games client on Steam is for cross-play, confirms publisher
Space Marine 2: Quick Note on the Most Common Issues
SteamDB: List of Games that Make Use of EOS
