The upcoming Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has built significant anticipation among fans of the Warhammer 40K series. While the singleplayer campaign promises a brutal and immersive experience within the dystopian universe, multiplayer fans also have a lot to look forward to.
The newly revealed Operations mode should satisfy the needs of co-op enthusiasts, but Space Marine 2 will also introduce a 6v6 PvP mode dubbed Eternal War, which could end up taking the spotlight away from another scathingly popular multiplayer game: Helldivers 2.
Operations Is A Deep And Robust Multiplayer Mode
Unlike Warhammer 40K single-player campaigns where players control a Space Marine, Operations throws players into a class-based system, allowing for tactical squad composition as each of the six unique classes will have a specific focus and a powerful bespoke weapon.
Whether you prefer ranged dominance, stealthy infiltration, or frontline defense, there’s a class to suit your playstyle. While the developers haven’t revealed all the classes yet, they’ve hinted at inspiration from the Primaris armor units within the Warhammer 40K lore.
Operations also features a robust progression system. Completing objectives rewards players with experience and in-game currency, allowing them to upgrade their chosen class’s special abilities and unlock new weaponry.
Space Marine 2‘s PvP Mode Could Outshine Helldivers 2
While Operations makes for a co-op experience you can sink several hours into, Space Marine 2 won’t shy away from traditional PvP combat either. Eternal War is a 6v6 PvP mode where players can choose from the same six classes available in Operations and face off against other players in three distinct match types:
- Annihilation: A classic team deathmatch where two squads of Space Marines fight for the highest kill count within a time limit.
- Seize Ground: Teams compete to capture and hold three designated zones on the map, strategically deploying their classes to secure victory.
- Capture and Control: A twist on King of the Hill, where teams battle for control of a single zone that randomly changes location throughout the match, demanding constant adaptation.
Space Marine 2‘s robust PvP offering caters to players who enjoy testing their skills in a highly competitive space, offering a different kind of challenge compared to the co-op focused Operations mode.
However, this PvP mode also puts the upcoming Warhammer 40K in stark contrast against Arrowhead’s unexpected 2024 smash-hit Helldivers 2, which is PvE by design. Players take the galactic fight against two alien factions – the Automatons and Terminids.
As fun as Helldivers 2‘s gameplay is, PvE does start feeling a bit stale over an extended period of time, especially when the game only has two enemy factions. A third race dubbed the Illuminate will reportedly be added sometime in the future, but for now, Helldivers 2‘s player count has waned in recent memory on account of the limited enemy variety.
To rectify this roadblock, Arrowhead fans have suggested a PvP mode to be added into the co-op shooter, which would allow players to fight against each other. However, considering the in-game lore, the game’s foundational design, and the antiquated engine it’s built on, a PvP mode may take a long time to add, if Arrowhead even goes forward with it.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 and its multiplayer offerings are shaping up to present it as a strong contender among the current crop of co-op action games. Arrowhead may need to buckle down and get to work on making Helldivers 2 more appealing in that regard.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will release on 9 September 2024.
