Space Marine 2 and Saber Interactive needs to take on its biggest threat yet – rampant racism within the game’s massive community.
Space Marine 2 continues to ride the high wave, with people showering heaps of praise on the game’s various aspects, from its stunning visuals and gruesome combat to its faithful rendition of the larger 40K universe.
An Ultramarine taking on a Tyranid Horde – Image Credit: Saber Interactive.Unfortunately, however, this success appears to have attracted a rather unsavory side of gaming’s populace to Saber Interactive’s masterpiece, one that has misinterpreted the franchise’s lore and themes as justification for expressing harmful real-world racist views.
The Space Marine 2 Community’s Reputation Is Being Tarnished by Blatant Racism
Let’s get one thing out of the way – no fault lies with the game in all this. After all, the developers do deserve praise for all that has been accomplished here. Whether it’s cleaving through swarms of Tyranids or blasting foes with heavy bolters, the game succeeds in delivering what it sets out to do.
However, perhaps as a byproduct of its success, an unfortunate problem has emerged—certain players are using the game’s portrayal of xenophobia to support real-world racism, demonstrating a rather gross misunderstanding of Warhammer 40 K’s themes.
You see, the xenophobic aspects of the game and the 40K universe are intentional and serve as a thematic critique of an exaggerated dystopian future.
It’s a universe in which humanity fights for survival against alien species while often displaying extreme hatred and intolerance toward non-human beings.
It genuinely cannot be overstated, but these themes are not, by any stretch of the word, analogous to real-world racism. You’re meant to feel a bit of repulsiveness towards the world and its mythos, not feel a sense of relatability to it.
Yet, it seems as though some players have taken the lore’s grimdark xenophobia as an excuse to promote real-world racist ideologies, which is not only a deeply flawed action but, once again, completely misaligned with the intentions of the game’s creators.
If left unchecked, this misinterpretation risks turning Space Marine 2’s community into a cesspool of toxicity, where racism and sexism could thrive under the guise of fictional in-game themes.
Saber Interactive Needs to Keep the Space Marine 2 Community in Check
Titus taking on the Tyranids in Space Marine 2 – Image Credit: Saber Interactive.
Talking about the developers, it is vital to acknowledge just how well Saber Interactive has captured the very essence of the 40K universe with Space Marine 2.
Trust us; it is an unbelievably massive blessing that you don’t need to go through hundreds of hours’ worth of lore just to understand and appreciate the depth of the game’s narrative.
Not to mention, the game’s portrayal of its grimdark universe aligns closely with the overarching lore, showing that Warhammer’s world is one of constant war and moral ambiguity. These themes are not a commentary on our world but are used to highlight the inhumane choices people often tend to make in their fight for survival.
However, with a growing number of players distorting the game’s message, Saber might want to consider new ways to better moderate and guide player behavior, ensuring that the focus remains on the narrative and gameplay, not on harmful real-world practices.
But with that said, what are your thoughts on this problem? Have you encountered this issue within Warhammer 40 K’s community before? Let us know in the comments below.
