The much-anticipated release of *Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2* on PC has sparked a significant controversy among fans, not due to gameplay or story, but because of a mandatory installation: Epic Online Services (EOS). Dive into the details of the developers' statements and the ensuing fan backlash.

Space Marine 2 Requires EOS for Crossplay, Despite Fan Opposition

EOS is Mandatory, According to Epic

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has stirred up a storm of debate since its launch, primarily due to the mandatory inclusion of Epic Online Services (EOS). While the game's publisher, Focus Entertainment, has stated on their website that "linking your Steam and Epic account is not required to enjoy the game," Epic Games clarified to Eurogamer that crossplay is a non-negotiable feature for multiplayer titles on their store. This policy has led to the integration of EOS into Space Marine 2, affecting players who purchased the game on Steam and have no interest in crossplay.

"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," stated an Epic Games spokesperson 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."

The key issue here is that while developers aren't forced to use EOS, opting for crossplay across different PC platforms on the Epic store essentially leaves EOS as the only practical choice. For many developers, this represents the easiest route, as EOS offers pre-built solutions that meet Epic's crossplay requirements, and it's free to use.

Fan Outcry Over EOS

While some gamers appreciate the idea of crossplay, a significant portion of the community has voiced strong opposition to the mandatory installation of EOS. Concerns range from fears of "spyware" to a general aversion to additional software and the Epic Games launcher. This dissatisfaction led to Space Marine 2 being review-bombed on Steam upon release, with the majority of negative feedback focusing on the unannounced EOS installation. The lengthy End User License Agreement (EULA) associated with EOS has also sparked privacy concerns, particularly regarding the collection of personal information, which is only applicable in certain regions.

However, Space Marine 2 is not the only game using EOS and its EULA. Nearly a thousand other games, including popular titles like Hades, Elden Ring, Satisfactory, Dead by Daylight, Palworld, and Hogwarts Legacy, also utilize the service. Given that Unreal Engine, a widely used game development tool owned by Epic, often integrates EOS, it's no surprise that many games adopt it. This raises the question of whether the negative reviews of Space Marine 2 are a reaction to a broader industry trend or a specific issue with the game.

Ultimately, the choice to install EOS in Space Marine 2 lies with the individual player. It's possible to uninstall EOS, but doing so means giving up crossplay with players outside of Steam.

Despite the controversy, Space Marine 2 has received high praise for its gameplay and execution. Game8 awarded it a score of 92, describing it as a "near-perfect representation of what it means to be a zealous Space Marine under the Empire of Man and an amazing sequel to the 2011 third-person shooter." For a detailed analysis, check out our full review of Space Marine 2!