"Space Marine 2 System Requirements Disappoint Fans"

The highly anticipated release of *Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2* on PC has been overshadowed by a contentious issue: the mandatory installation of Epic Online Services (EOS). Despite the excitement surrounding the game's gory action, fans are up in arms about this new requirement. Let's delve into 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 controversy since its launch, primarily due to the mandatory installation of Epic Online Services (EOS). While Focus Entertainment, the game's publisher, clarified that "linking your Steam and Epic account is not required to enjoy the game," Epic Games recently emphasized to Eurogamer that crossplay is an essential requirement for multiplayer titles on the Epic Games Store. This policy seems to be the driving force behind EOS being bundled with *Space Marine 2*, affecting even those 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, as reported by 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 crux of the issue is that while developers aren't obligated to use EOS, opting for the Epic store and crossplay across PC storefronts makes EOS the most straightforward choice. For many, it's the path of least resistance as EOS offers ready-made solutions that comply with Epic's 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. Their concerns stem from various issues, including fears of "spyware" and unease about the additional software needed to play the game. Some simply wish to steer clear of the Epic Games launcher entirely.

This backlash led to *Space Marine 2* being review-bombed on Steam upon release, with the majority of negative feedback focusing on the unannounced EOS installation. Despite being a separate service from the Epic Games launcher, the extensive End User License Agreement (EULA) associated with EOS has sparked privacy concerns. The confusion over the EULA, especially regarding personal data collection (which applies only to certain regions), has further intensified the negativity.

It's worth noting that *Space Marine 2* is not the only game using EOS and its EULA. Nearly a thousand games, including popular titles like *Hades*, *Elden Ring*, *Satisfactory*, *Dead by Daylight*, *Palworld*, and *Hogwarts Legacy*, also utilize this service. With Epic owning Unreal Engine—a widely used game development tool that often integrates EOS—it's no surprise that many games adopt it.

Thus, the negative reviews targeting *Space Marine 2*'s use of EOS may reflect either a knee-jerk reaction or genuine concern about a common industry practice.

Ultimately, whether to install EOS remains a personal choice for each player. It's possible to uninstall EOS, but doing so means forfeiting crossplay with players outside of Steam.

Despite the controversy, *Space Marine 2* continues to receive high praise. Game8 awarded the game a stellar 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, be sure to check out our full review of *Space Marine 2*!