A playable build of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has reportedly appeared on a piracy website two months before the official release date.
Insider Gaming reported that the build weighs in at 75GB, is dated June 20 (which suggests it’s near complete), and, crucially, is playable. While some assets are placeholder, the build allegedly lets players play with friends.
Videos have already appeared on YouTube showing gameplay in what is a devastating leak for developer Saber Interactive, Warhammer 40,000 owner Games Workshop, and publisher Focus. Saber Interactive is currently working to take down the footage, but as with all leaks of this kind, it faces an uphill battle preventing spoilers from hitting the internet.
It is so far unclear how this build leaked online. IGN has asked for comment.
Space Marine 2, which recently went gold — meaning the game is ready to be put on discs and distributed globally — is a third-person action game based on Games Workshop’s grimdark tabletop wargame that sees the Ultramarines chapter of Space Marines go up against the Tyranids and the Chaos Marines.
You play Lieutenant Titus of the Ultramarines and battle to fend off a Tyranid invasion, with Thousand Sons Chaos Marines thrown in for good measure. There’s a story-focused campaign, a three-player co-op mode called Operations that lets you join forces with up to two friends, and a competitive multiplayer mode that pits Space Marines against Chaos Marines in 6v6 PvP.
Saber and Focus had already canceled the planned Space Marine 2 open beta so the development team could focus on getting the game ready for launch. Now it faces a further distraction as it desperately tries to plug this leak. Space Marine’s official release date is September 9, 2024, on the PlayStation, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
