Space Marine 2 only allows for 3-player co-op because Space Marines "are almost invincible" and any more would make the shooter "too easy"

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 screenshot showcasing three fully-geared Space Marines standing side-by-side with weapons equipped
(Image credit: Saber Interactive)

Saber Interactive has a good reason behind why Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is only getting three-player co-op - the Space Marines are simply way too OP.

Speaking in an interview with PC Gamer, brand and creative manager Yann François reveals just how powerful Space Marines truly are. "When you are reading about Space Marines," he explains, "Ultramarines and Primaris - you discover that they're superhuman on a really crazy scale. They measure up to [two to three] meters, they have two or three hearts functioning."

With two hearts, three lungs, and a powerhouse for a body, more than three Space Marines at a time in co-op mode wouldn't balance all that well. François says that developers actually tested out a four-person version, but it didn't work - Space Marine 2 ended up being way too easy."[It] was quite a challenge for the team to say: 'OK, [Space Marines] are almost invincible. How do we create a challenge around it?'"

François continues, detailing the "massacre" that occurred during the trialed four-player mode: "Because it could be super easy … That is what led to the choice of creating a multiplayer of up to three players. Because many people asked 'why is it not up to four players?' They tried it, and they realized it was too easy … it was a massacre. So three was a good number."

Considering the fact that Space Marines have bioengineered organs, the height of a giant, and the ability to stay awake while half their brain sleeps, I'd personally say that three-player co-op is more than fair. It's exciting to see how true to the lore Space Marine 2 is staying, too - sure, the devs could've adjusted things to allow for more players at once, but keeping the superhuman Space Marine abilities intact is the way to go.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 dev confirms major leak spoiling "many of the surprises we worked to keep secret," but says the build is almost a year old

Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

Read more
Titus in Warhammer Space Marine 2
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 promises to "redefine the standards of third-person action games," but I'd rather it fix Space Marine 2's biggest problem
Space Marine 2 4K texture pack shots
Saber CEO knew Space Marine 2 would be a success after playing it for over 300 hours, but he was still surprised when it sold 6 million copies
Space Marine 2 4K texture pack shots
After the success of Space Marine 2, the Warhammer people are "looking for the next one" as CEO says big successes in the franchise "are not a given"
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 reveal art
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 is in development following the explosive success of Space Marine 2, and it's promising even bigger battles
Helldivers 2 screenshot showing a fully geared/armored diver standing with gun in hand as three jets soar the skies behind him
Helldivers 2 CEO says Warhammer 40k owners "would love a crossover," but "time and resources are finite and we have our hands busy"
Helldivers 2 screenshot showing a fully geared/armored diver standing with gun in hand as three jets soar the skies behind him
Arrowhead reveals the Helldivers 2 ideas left on its cutting room floor, from 5-player squads to low-gravity planets and a whole new armor system
Latest in Third Person Shooter
Jeff the Land Shark as he appears in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals has an unintentional Team-Up ability for Jeff the Land Shark and Doctor Strange, who can join forces for a bug that sends foes into an inescapable void
Four Helldivers lined up on base ship
A year after Malevelon Creek became Helldivers 2's fiercest battleground, it looks like the Automatons are coming back for more
Helldivers 2 screenshot showing someone using a big gun
Helldivers 2 boss says "death and rebirth" is a natural part of the games industry, but it's "unnecessarily brutal" right now "because we don't diversify enough"
The Invisible Woman in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals devs know exactly how popular Invisible Woman is, and say that "body shape or silhouette" add to a character's popularity in a way far more innocent than the internet deserves
Helldivers 2 Warbond
Helldivers 2 players "became obsessed" with Malevolon Creek, but it was Gabe Newell who really kicked off one of Super Earth's bloodiest battles
Heroes and villains face off in Marvel Rivals key art
Marvel Rivals exec isn't afraid of roster bloat after NetEase promised new heroes every 6 weeks: "There's no limit for the sky. We just throw everything at it"
Latest in News
Everybody's Golf Hot Shots
The surprise theme of today's Nintendo Direct was classic PlayStation franchises getting a comeback without Sony's involvement
Hogwarts Legacy how many spells
Unannounced Hogwarts Legacy DLC reportedly canceled, partly because the studio wasn't sure it'd be worth players' money
Ultimate X-Men #14
Ultimate X-Men #14 pays homage to a classic Wolverine moment as the Shadow King returns
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Ubisoft reaches deal with Tencent to create $4.3 billion mini-Ubisoft subsidiary to "spearhead development" on new Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six games
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last Of Us season 2
The Last of Us showrunner says he isn't worried about fan reaction to season 2: "The best way we could respect our fans and honor them is to not worry about them"
Black Myth: Wukong
English is no longer the biggest language on Steam as Chinese gamers embrace PC gaming even harder after Black Myth: Wukong