Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2’ Developer Cancels Public Beta Test In Order To Focus On Optimization And Polishing

 Warhammer 40,000  Space Marine 2’ Developer Cancels Public Beta Test In Order To Focus On Optimization And Polishing

Warhammer 40,000  Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive and publisher Focus Entertainment cancelled their public beta test claiming they will be focusing on optimization and polishing ahead of the game’s September release.

Focus Entertainment had previously announced the game would receive a Beta Test back in August 2023 when it revealed gameplay.

However, in a recent update on the game’s Steam forums, Saber and Focus announced the Beta test would no longer be happening.

The companies announced, “Space Marine 2 is almost ready. We are now entirely focused on optimization, polish and fixing remaining issues ahead of launch on September 9. This means we will not run a public online beta, as it would take the development teams away from preparing for the full launch, and our priority is to ensure the best possible experience at release.”

While they will not be running the Beta anymore, they did promise that individuals who signed up for it will now receive a Bolt Pistol skin, “We know this is disappointing news for some of you. As a thank you to those interested in participating, players who registered via the online signup before June 28, 2024, midnight Paris Time, will receive the limited Bolt Pistol skin below.”

Their update concluded, “We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we work towards delivering the exceptional game you deserve.”

This cancellation of the Beta test comes in the wake of the game being delayed to its current September 2024 release back in November.

The game was originally supposed to be released in the winter of 2023, but was delayed to the second half of 2024 with Focus Entertainment explaining in a press release, “The game is now poised to ship in the second half of 2024, to provide the time needed to properly polish the game and to ensure the best possible experience. Focus Entertainment is committed to releasing a game that is of the highest quality and that exceeds the expectations of the countless fans of the franchise.”

There is a lot of hype surrounding the game. It is currently 9th on Steam DB’s Most Wishlisted Upcoming Steam Games and the game has over 100,000 followers on Steam. Focus Entertainment had previously revealed in November 2023 that the game had “already accumulated over a million wish lists to date.

Despite the hype, the cancellation of this public beta test is a massive red flag, and raises the question of what do they not want to show the public by cancelling it. It’s not the only flag either. The developer and publisher previously claimed the game would have no microtransactions, but in the same breath claimed it would feature a season pass and paid cosmetic options, which are indeed microtransactions.

They detailed in a blog post in May, “We want Space Marine 2 to be an experience tailor-crafted for the players. Hence, we’re happy to confirm that there aren’t any microtransactions in Space Marine 2. No in-game cash shop. All gameplay content and features will be free to all players. Any paid DLCs will be cosmetic only.”

Furthermore, Focus Entertainment’s Brand Manager Sylvain Le Roux confirmed to PCGamesN that the game will have a season pass, but it will be “purely cosmetic” and “will be delivered in several phases.”

He also added that “everything you’ll get [in the passes] is purely cosmetic. All of the gameplay additions, whether it’s new missions or new enemies, all of that will come for free to all players.

According to that blog post, “the content of the game has been locked for a while now, and we’re in the final stages of the game production. Most of our efforts are currently focused on debugging and polishing to pass the final certification steps. We want to deliver the cleanest possible experience at launch, and the team is fully focused on it!”

The core game “features a gripping narrative that follows fan-favorite Lieutenant Titus—powerfully portrayed by actor Clive Standen. After you get reinstated as a Space Marine, embody the superhuman skill and brutality of the greatest of the Emperor’s warriors. Unleash deadly abilities and an arsenal of devastating weaponry to obliterate the relentless Tyranid hordes.”

What do you make of Saber and Focus cancelling their public beta test?