Summary
A playable build ofWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2has leaked online and can already be found on various piracy sites. Although it’s an incomplete and old game version, it appears to be playable from start to finish. This leak occurred two months before the official release ofWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, scheduled for September 9.
Last week, publisher Focus Entertainment announced thatWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2had gone gold, meaning development was complete, and the game was ready for release. With the game in the gold state, it seemed sure that there would be no further delays, and fans would only have to wait two more months before returning to the role of Ultramarine Titus as he faced threats from the Tyranids alongside a new squad. Unfortunately, bad news traveled faster than the game’s release.
An oldWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2build leaked online, and it has already spread thin among several torrent websites. According toRedditusers, the leaked version is 75 GB and was initially leaked on the 4chan forum. Although elements of the game are missing and filled with placeholders, the game’s campaign can be played from start to finish, with support even for thenew co-op Operations mode and local PvP, but without bots. For now, it’s unclear who was responsible for the leak.
Focus Entertainment Shares Thoughts About Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Leak
Focus Entertainment has commented on social media, expressing regret over the incident and appreciating the community’s support. According to the publisher, “It’s disheartening that many of the surprises we worked to keep secret were spoiled.” To prevent this, Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive,the developer ofWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, are pursuing YouTube channels that post videos of the game using this version, taking down the content and even the channels themselves, citing copyright violations.
This leaked version ofWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2appears to be a build from June 20, which could have been the version of the game intended for the canceledWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2open beta. In any case, it’s a shame for the publisher and all the developers involved with the game.
Leaks in the gaming industry have been occurring more frequently lately. In 2022,Grand Theft Auto 6suffered one of the biggest leaksin the industry, which saw various videos and screenshots of an in-development build of the game being distributed online. Then, in 2023, Nintendo became a target when physical editions ofThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwere shipped early by retailers and quickly distributed for download. On both occasions, companies reported how this affected everyone involved with the games. However, no matter the harm done, it’ll likely not be enough to prevent future occurrences.
