In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war… and apparently, some savage burns from game developers. Tim Willits, the Chief Creative Officer at Saber Interactive, recently took a not-so-subtle jab at Bethesda’s infamous horse armor DLC while discussing the monetization strategy for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.
And let’s just say, the Emperor himself would be proud of this verbal Exterminatus.
With Space Marine 2 now out in the wild for over a month, players have had ample time to dive into the game’s gory, Tyranid-slaying action. But while the recent 4.0 patch has stirred up some controversy among the fanbase, one aspect of the game that has garnered near-universal praise is its refreshingly straightforward approach to microtransactions.
No Horse Armor Here, Inquisitor
In a pre-release interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Willits made it clear that Saber Interactive had no intention of nickel-and-diming players with questionable DLC practices. And he did so by taking a delightfully pointed dig at his former employer:
People don’t want to be sold horse armour anymore. I can say that because I worked at Bethesda. Our fans never thought we ripped them off in World War Z. Focus are great. They kind of let us do what we want.
For those who may not remember, the “horse armor” in question refers to a notorious $2.50 DLC pack released for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion back in 2006. The purely cosmetic add-on became a symbol of the gaming industry’s growing obsession with microtransactions, and has been the butt of countless jokes in the years since.
By invoking this infamous piece of gaming history, Willits not only threw some serious shade at Todd Howard and company but also reaffirmed Saber’s commitment to a more player-friendly monetization model. As promised, Space Marine 2‘s microtransactions are exclusively limited to cosmetic purchases, with all future gameplay content and features set to be free for all players.
The Emperor Protects (Your Wallet)
Of course, even the most noblebright monetization strategy won’t mean much if the game itself fails to deliver. Thankfully, Space Marine 2 has managed to live up to the hype, offering a satisfying blend of visceral combat, stunning visuals, and, perhaps most importantly, sheer faithfulness to the Warhammer 40k source material.
That’s not to say the game is perfect, of course. The recent 4.0 patch, which introduced some controversial balance changes and difficulty spikes, has left many players feeling like they’re on the wrong end of a Chaos Space Marine’s power fist.
But to their credit, publisher Focus Entertainment has been quick to respond to the backlash, promising that the developers are “actively working” on another patch to address the community’s concerns.
Still, in an era where predatory microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics have become all too common, it’s refreshing to see a game like Space Marine 2 buck the trend. By prioritizing player experience over short-term profits, Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment have shown that they understand what makes the Warhammer 40k community tick.
And who knows? If they keep this up, maybe even the Chaos Gods will have to start taking notes.
What do you think of Space Marine 2‘s approach to microtransactions? Are you happy to see a game that respects its players’ wallets, or do you think the industry needs a more radical overhaul? Let us know in the comments below!
