Saber’s One Act That Effectively Kills and Saves All Space Marine 2 Mods is What Nintendo Needs for Switch 2

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is no stranger to the creativity of its player base. The game’s modding community has made hundreds of mods that have earned praise from both players and even the developer. But with great freedom comes complications.

Saber Interactive recently announced that mods will no longer be allowed on public servers starting in December. Instead, the devs plan to add official modding tools and mod support for the game. Supporting creativity like this is something Nintendo could learn from as it prepares for the next iteration of the Switch.

Space Marine 2 Modding is About to Get Even Better

The decision to ban mods from public servers is not without reason. Since its release, Space Marine 2 has seen an explosion of modding activity. Players and modders have made mods for everything from cosmetic changes to game-changing mechanics.

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— Spreet (@TWEETSPREET) November 20, 2024

Saber’s decision comes in response to server stability issues and reports of save file corruption tied to mod usage. Dmitriy Grigorenko, the game’s director, noted in a forum post (via IGN) that these problems affected not only players using mods but also those without them.

This doesn’t spell the end for Space Marine 2 mods though. They will remain fully functional in private Operations lobbies and upcoming custom lobbies for the Eternal War mode.

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— Bread enjoyer 🍞 (@__Mr__Bread__) November 20, 2024

What sets Saber’s approach apart is its forward-thinking support for modders. The developer plans to release official modding tools to make modding easier and more integrated.

We will also be providing an easy entry point to our backend for games with mods installed, so modders won’t have to spend time hacking the game executable after each patch. If we somehow break this pipeline for mods by accident in the future, we’ll fix it.

Grigorenko also reassured players that any inadvertent issues caused by future updates would be addressed swiftly. Saber has framed the change as a compromise rather than a punishment.

Nintendo Could Learn a Thing or Two From Saber

The lessons from Saber’s strategy could extend beyond the Warhammer universe. As Nintendo gears up for its rumored Switch 2, the company faces a similar challenge. Nintendo’s strict stance on fan projects has often alienated its community.

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Nintendo could really benefit by adopting a model like Saber’s. Offer tools and clear guidelines for modding while setting boundaries. Nintendo could transform its relationship with modders and create an ecosystem for its next console one that fosters creativity.

One of the standout aspects of Saber’s decision is its transparent communication. The developer openly acknowledged the issues caused by mods and explained its rationale for the changes. This level of engagement not only builds trust but also sets expectations.

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Of course, no solution is perfect. Some players and modders have expressed disappointment at the inability to use mods on public servers. However, as Grigorenko pointed out, the alternative could have been far worse: an outright ban on mods.

The Space Marine 2 case also highlights the importance of compromise. By allowing mods in private and custom lobbies, Saber has made a dedicated space for modding and experimenting, all while keeping the main player base unaffected.

For a company like Nintendo, which has historically kept its decisions under wraps, such transparency is exactly what it needs.