Prestige Perks in Space Marine 2: A Grind That Could Backfire

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The 7.0 “Trygon Update” for “Space Marine 2” has just been launched, introducing the title mission “Exfiltration”, where you hunt Tyranids, along with numerous enhancements. Each class now boasts an expanded arsenal, weapon perks have undergone significant upgrades throughout, and to sweeten the deal, both the Space Wolves and Imperial Fists received a champion pack.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say, one of the noticeable tweaks to the PVE gameplay was the introduction of Prestige Ranks. These ranks bring fresh rewards for players who’ve maxed out their classes, serving as an enticing new goal post. You can opt for these after resetting your class to level 1, then grinding it back up to level 25, a process that can be repeated three times per class. The catch? You can activate four Prestige perks simultaneously.

However, since it’s been tested on the public server, the Prestige system has stirred up some debate among players. Some fear that if not handled carefully, this could set an unwelcome precedent for how Saber supports Space Marine 2 in the long run.

The Grind for Prestige Perks Sets a Bad Precedent for Space Marine 2

Since the powerful debut of Space Marine 2 in September 2024, its player count has been on a downward trend. This is typically what happens with games that primarily focus on a single-player campaign, as post-launch updates can only retain a specific number of players. While each update from Saber does manage to draw some players back momentarily, the game has faced challenges in catering to its dedicated audience. To come close to meeting their expectations, it even had to introduce two extra difficulty levels.

A significant challenge that has emerged over time regarding Player vs Environment (PVE) gameplay is the issue of character progression. Once characters reach level 25 since their release, there’s limited incentive to continue playing them, as the only further progress possible is in weapon levels. Although it can be enjoyable to play a max-level character initially, repeatedly performing the same missions with no new rewards to unlock can grow tiresome.

To cater to this specific group, Saber experimented with the introduction of Prestige Ranks on the open beta server first, prior to including them in Space Marine 2 during its 7.0 Trygon Update. The addition of Prestige Ranks allows classes to be leveled up four times, selecting a new perk each reset, amounting to a total of 29 perks. This system offers seasoned players a fresh start with renewed excitement as they can now pursue additional rewards.

In Space Marine 2, introducing Prestige Ranks has stirred dissent among some gamers, who argue that the effort required to rebuild their characters outweighs the benefits derived from the rewards. The idea of restarting a character from scratch is a substantial demand, and not everyone may be ready for such a commitment. To encourage players, XP gains are boosted by 10% with each reset, making progress faster. However, some players have complained that certain classes receive overpowered Prestige perks, while others seem to receive insufficient incentives.

Prestige Ranks Are Welcome, but Feel Like a Stopgap Solution

In his statement, Saber expressed that they don’t want Prestige mode to be the default option for every player, understanding that some players may prefer not to have the obligation to restart their progress. However, by introducing Prestige Ranks, the developers might unintentionally establish an unfavorable pattern for the content strategy of “Space Marine 2.” Although Prestige represents a progressive move in one aspect, the necessity to re-earn levels feels like an artificial expansion of content rather than offering a meaningful new experience. Such a strategy should not be overly relied on in the future.

The developers face the challenge that players may eventually exhaust available activities, yet intensifying the workload (grind) isn’t a long-term solution to maintain player engagement. Many players appreciate that Space Marine 2 is not a live-service game, demonstrating that it values their time more, making the grind feel like a regression. In Player versus Player (PVP), leveling up is already gradual, and this mode requires fresh content much more urgently than Player versus Environment (PVE) sections, regardless of how impressive the new missions may be.

The Prestige Ranks are well-intentioned, yet their execution could use some enhancement. So far, content updates have been regular and offer valuable quality-of-life upgrades along with additional fun features. However, at a certain point, Space Marine 2 needs to offer more than just minor enhancements to truly captivate endgame players. Introducing a new faction through the DLC for Space Marine 2 could be an excellent strategy to cater to a significant portion of the gaming community.

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2025-04-21 05:06