Space Marine 2 public test server lets you try its new Siege mode early

Space Marine 2 patch 8 is bringing us more than just the new Siege mode, and the good news is that you don't have to wait for weeks to try it. The new update for one of the best Warhammer 40k games also includes a long-requested overhaul for the Absolute difficulty, and a new way to play the Bulwark class. If you're a Steam player, the Space Marine 2 public test server (PTS) has just opened its doors once again, meaning you can dive into an early version of the patch and test out the changes.

The new Siege mode, revealed during the Warhammer Skulls festival, brings another challenge to Space Marine 2. The three-player, endless wave survival mode, which pushes you against hordes of Tyranids and Heretics alike, promises to be another brutal PvE offering. But developer Saber Interactive has more on the cards for Steam's biggest Warhammer 40k game. Ever since the introduction of Absolute difficulty, there has been a lot of feedback that it felt too easy – a sentiment confirmed by a recent community poll run by the studio.

"We think that Absolute difficulty wasn't that hard to begin with and now, with a slight power creep, the situation is much worse," Saber writes. To fix this, Absolute is getting some key changes. A second Terminus enemy can now appear during missions. Its health has been increased dramatically, and it'll be accompanied by two sets of extra enemy packs, one at spawn and another halfway through the fight. These supporting forces have also been made more challenging, with a greater count of Extremis foes. Additionally, missions that have a final boss can now also spawn Terminus troublemakers.

The developer explains that it "scrapped the idea of having two Terminus enemies in Operations mode at the same time (except in Siege mode), because this meant that you would have to encounter them all of the time, otherwise one run with dual Terminus spawns would be much harder than a run with two Terminus enemies spawning one by one." Instead, it's focused on making each fight with these tyrants feel tougher and more intense. "We are going to continue to monitor how Absolute difficulty is, and make necessary tweaks," it concludes.

Also included in the changes, and the PTS build, is the ability for the Bulwark class to equip the Thunder Hammer, although doing so prevents you from using its signature Storm Shield. "We think it will be very cool and it's a shame that only one class can use the Thunder Hammer," Saber explains. "We are not done with Bulwark, more interesting gameplay things are to come." The class also gets two new shield finishers.

Beyond that, the PTS allows you to test out changes to prestige perks, class perks, and weapon perks. There are also a couple of buffs for the Bolt Pistol and Inferno Pistol, although Saber notes that "usage and win rate for all weapons is in a good spot right now." Overall responsiveness in combat has been improved, too; you should no longer get stun-locked by Neurothrope warp storms, and can use the Assault Jump Pack to actively dodge shots from enemy snipers.

The Space Marine 2 public test server is live now and will run until the full launch of patch 8 on Thursday June 26. You'll need a copy of the game on Steam to take part. Find the separate 'Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 – Public Test Server' entry in your Steam library and install that to play. Your files and progression are separate from the main game, and will not be affected by one another.

You can read through all the individual additions and tweaks in the full patch notes courtesy of Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment. Saber notes that it's currently "preparing a very big update for customization" alongside a PvP weapon balance pass, both of which will feature in a future update.

Alternatively, take a look through more of the best co-op games on PC right now, or perhaps, if you're seeking something you can enjoy while your friends are busy, one of the best single-player games.

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