The success of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has caught the gaming industry by surprise, primarily due to its comparatively modest budget. The industry is currently at a crossroads because bloated budgets and over-scoped projects are sinking AAA titles these days. And only a few games have managed to be outliers.
With less than half the budget of id Software’s Doom Eternal, Space Marine 2 proves that success lies in managing scope and budget wisely. If you can do this while also giving players a fun time, then that’s the formula. Other studios need to learn from Saber.
Space Marine 2’s Success May Not Be as Surprising as People Think
AAA games often fail due to their overwhelming scope and inflated budgets. Titles like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Final Fantasy XVI are prime examples of expensive, overdeveloped projects that launched with high expectations but underwhelming sales.
Space Marine 2 is fantastic.
A brilliant co-op experience and the best Warhammer game I have ever played!
The combat and visuals are spectacular, while the world, story, and attention to detail have also made my 40k nerd heart sing
It has quickly shot up my GOTY list. pic.twitter.com/Mli13NNnpD
— Dave Jewitt (@IrregularDave) September 4, 2024
As these games pile on costly features and lengthy development cycles, they risk losing the essence of what makes gaming enjoyable. Tim Willits, Saber’s Chief Creative Officer talked about this in an interview with IGN.
Willits argues that the industry’s obsession with massive production budgets, especially in North America, has led to unreasonable sales expectations, causing a failure if games don’t sell millions of units.
I miss experiences like this. It’s why Space Marine 2 is such a hit with me. pic.twitter.com/bq7dYm979v
— CountryGentlman ✝️🔫🎮🇺🇲 (@Gentlman_Gaming) October 5, 2024
Willits pointed out that the team avoided chasing the latest trends or revolutionary mechanics and instead executed existing features exceptionally well. The result was a game that not only satisfied the Warhammer fanbase but also the entire industry.
Saber’s Success Should Serve As a Lesson To Other Devs
Saber’s success with Space Marine 2 isn’t an isolated case. The studio has also seen considerable success with titles like World War Z and SnowRunner, both of which were created on modest budgets but have been played by millions of gamers.
There are no words to describe the joy we feel seeing you enjoy #SpaceMarine2 and take pride in the work we’ve done on the Warhammer 40k license. 💙
Your fun is our greatest reward! Keep sending us your feedback, it means the world.
With love, for the Emperor! ⭐ pic.twitter.com/bI5JnyGOF3
— Focus Entertainment (@Focus_entmt) September 7, 2024
Willits noted that Saber’s studios work on multiple projects simultaneously, often starting small with a handful of developers working on an idea until it’s fully realized. This lean production model prevents the waste of millions of dollars when a project needs to pivot.
What Space Marine 2 and games like it prove is that players are ultimately drawn to games that prioritize fun and quality over scale and spectacle. With Space Marine 2, Saber focused on what they do best. And it worked, with the game selling over two million copies at launch and becoming the most-played Warhammer video game on Steam.
The lesson from Space Marine 2 is clear. Success in making games doesn’t require massive budgets or big feature sets. Instead, it comes from understanding what makes a game fun and executing those elements well.
What did you think about Space Marine 2? Let us know in the comments!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
