Space Marine 2
Toxic Masculinity
Sells Games
Who would have guessed?!!
Sept 15, 2024
"Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II" has achieved significant success. The game sold over 2 million copies within 24 hours of its official launch, marking it as one of the fastest-selling titles for both Saber Interactive and its publisher.
On Steam, "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II" peaked at over 225,000 concurrent players, which is a record for any game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This player count underscores the game's appeal and the strong community engagement.
The discourse around "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II" and its relationship with concepts like toxic masculinity has stirred a variety of reactions across platforms, including discussions on X (formerly Twitter) and forums like Steam.
Space Marine II" largely adheres to the established lore of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, which is inherently hyper-masculine and militaristic. This setting, by design, focuses on Space Marines, genetically engineered super-soldiers who are depicted as male, which some argue inherently promotes a narrative of hyper-masculinity. However, within this universe, the concept of masculinity is exaggerated to the point where it could be seen as satire or commentary on such ideals rather than an endorsement.
The debate over female Custodes in Warhammer 40,000 showcases a clash between maintaining lore integrity and evolving with "modern audience" values. While there's been demands for boycotting Space Marine II by the "modern audience" the actual impact on sales from it is negligible if any at all. The game's reception and sales proves once again that diversity for the sake of diversity does not sell games. This situation underscores the passionate investment fans have in the lore's consistency versus the company's desire to expand its universe in line with "modern audiences".
Smash JT outlines some of the controversy around this title.
