Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has a new update (patch 4.5) out now across all platforms, adding the hotly anticipated Neo-Volkite pistol to the game.
Saber Interactive’s explosive third-person melee / shooter set in Games Workshop’s grimdark sci-fi universe set records for a Warhammer video game upon its release in September, and has sold an impressive 4.5 million copies so far. Saber has continued to update it since, with today’s patch notes revealing yet more balance changes ahead of a larger update set to add Dark Angels cosmetics.
Let’s start with the Neo-Volkite pistol, which is a powerful thermal ray weapon that shoots lethal beams that burns enemies to ash. It’s available now for the Assault, Vanguard, and Bulwark classes, but is limited to Operations mode only. Operations is the three-player co-op focused PvE mode designed to be played long-term after the campaign is completed.
Unlike other weapons, the Neo-Volkite pistol blasts a heat ray onto your enemies, dealing accumulative thermal damage. Focusing on one enemy ramps up the damage until it generates a localized explosion for huge damage to your target and all nearby enemies.
The Neo-Volkite pistol makes its entry in the #SpaceMarine2 armoury
In Operations, blast heat rays onto your enemies, inflict accumulative damage and blow up those xenos! pic.twitter.com/HmkZEjPmBi
— Focus Entertainment (@Focus_entmt) November 12, 2024
Publisher Focus Entertainment said it’s limiting the Neo-Volkite pistol to Operations mode for now “as we continue to experiment with balancing in PvP.” It will be added to Eternal War mode in Space Marine 2’s next major update alongside a new Operations map, a new enemy, and the Dark Angels cosmetics. Until then though, you’ll be able to try it out against your friends in the Battle Barge’s Sparring Arena.
Moving on, there are a number of balance changes for Operations mode only, including buffs to the Plasma Incinerator, Bolt Sniper Rifle, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Bolt Carbine SMG, and the Auto Bolt Rifle. There are general fixes and tech improvements, too.
In September, Saber Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits told IGN how the breakout success of Space Marine 2 had “changed everything” for the company. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted the Space Marine chapter now all-but confirmed to get a cosmetic pack after the Dark Angels, too.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Update 4.5 patch notes:
BALANCING TWEAKS
Weapons (Operations mode only)
PLASMA INCINERATOR
👉 Slightly reduced amount of heat generated by normal and charged shots for versions:
– Master-Crafted – Alpha
– Salvation of Bakka – Alpha
– Gathalamor Crusade – Alpha
👉 Fixed a bug that would cause several versions not producing heat at all.
BOLT SNIPER RIFLE
👉 Fire rate increased from 50 to 60 rounds per minute.
👉 Headshot bonus increased from x2 to x2.5.
OCCULUS BOLT CARABINE
👉 Scope added
👉 Headshot bonus increased from x1 to x1.33
BOLT CARABINE (SMG)
👉 Adjusted damage falloff curve: Base damage increased by 50% for the first 10 meters, after that, the damage drops to the original pre-patch value.
AUTO BOLT RIFLE
👉 Max ammo increased by 1 magazine for each version.
GENERAL FIXES
– Fixed a bug causing unlocked DLC cosmetic items to get locked again after a restart.
– Fixed a bug causing the Sniper perk “Targeted Shot” to not work after swapping weapons.
– Fixed a bug causing the Sniper invisibility not getting removed after a shot in rare cases.
– Fixed a bug preventing players from muting the others in PvP.
– Fixed several perks not triggering correctly from enemy kills.
– Fixed a bug that prevented certain weapon perks from triggering correctly when reaching a specific HP threshold.
TECH IMPROVEMENTS
– Crash fixes and general stability improvements.
– Fixed server disconnects with unstable user connection.
– General connectivity improvements.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.