The latest “Trygon Update” for Space Marine 2 has landed, introducing the thrilling Tyranid mission “Exfiltration” and a slew of enhancements. Players will find that each class now boasts new weapons, a complete overhaul of weapon perks, and excitingly, champion packs for the Space Wolves and Imperial Fists.
A significant addition to the PvE experience is the introduction of Prestige Ranks. These provide a new progression path for players who have reached the maximum level with their classes. After resetting a class back to level 1, you can level it up to 25 three times, unlocking four Prestige perks in the process. While Prestige Ranks aim to inject fresh motivation, not everyone is on board. The community is split, as some see it as a worrying direction for how Saber might support Space Marine 2 going forward.
Since its successful debut in September 2024, Space Marine 2 has seen dwindling player numbers – a scenario common for titles anchored in single-player campaigns. Although Saber’s updates do momentarily pull players back in, catering to the hardcore segment has been challenging, leading to the addition of tougher difficulty settings. One persistent concern is class progression; classes max out at level 25, leaving players with little incentive to keep playing once that cap is hit. Sure, replaying missions with a fully leveled class can be fun initially, but the lack of new unlocks can make the experience feel repetitive.
To tackle this, Prestige Ranks were tested on the public server before being rolled out in the Trygon Update. Now, players can level a class four times, reaping a new Prestige perk with each reset, ultimately aiming for a total of 29 perks. This system is designed to reignite player passion with the promise of fresh rewards. Yet, despite increased XP gains—10% more with each reset—some players argue it’s not worth resetting a character completely. They point out that while certain Prestige perks offer substantial power boosts, others fall flat.
Though Prestige Ranks brought a welcomed depth to the game, they also highlight a missed opportunity for more substantial updates. Saber acknowledges that not every player should feel pressured into resetting their character, but the grind introduced by Prestige Ranks sets a concerning precedent. Rather than expanding the game world with meaningful content, it relies on players redoing the same grind—a tactic best avoided in future updates.
Developers face the inevitable truth that content will eventually run dry, but increasing player grind isn’t a viable long-term solution. Players appreciate that Space Marine 2 respects their time and isn’t a live-service model, making the grind feel like a misstep. PvP already suffers from slow progression, demanding fresh content far more than PvE does, regardless of the quality of new missions.
Prestige Ranks may have noble intentions, but execution falls short. While updates have improved and added to the game incrementally, Saber will eventually need to dream bigger to captivate endgame players. Perhaps introducing a new faction as part of a Space Marine 2 DLC could be the key to rejuvenating interest and satisfying a significant portion of the community.
