The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth, a turn-based strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, has been released as an expansion to the Area Marine 2 title. Technically, that’s accurate – you could launch the motion recreation right away. The official launch date is set for September 9; however, those willing to pay ahead of time can access the game a few days earlier, much like many successful titles do today.
For eager fans of Area Marine 2, it’s the purchase of either the gold or extreme edition that grants early access, a move that has been successfully taken by thousands of gamers thus far.
As a result of its appeal and the significant investment in lavish editions, Area Marine 2 propelled Steam’s most popular games charts to new heights. As a natural progression of its meteoric rise in popularity, the sport has secured its spot atop the Steam sales charts, where it remains the undisputed leader.
In a significant milestone, Area Marine 2 saw its concurrent player count soar to 134,302 on Steam, solidifying its place among the platform’s top ten most played games. As this text is being written, a staggering 75,000 players are currently engaged within the game’s virtual realm. As the highly anticipated launch unfolds, it’s likely that enthusiastic word-of-mouth will propel these figures further upward over the weekend, and we can only imagine the exponential boost they’ll receive once the game officially launches on Tuesday.
According to the current Steam reviews for Area Marine 2, which are predominantly optimistic and indicate a “Principally Optimistic” sentiment, there appear to be no significant signs of server issues. While internet connectivity isn’t necessary to play the game, much of its content – including the campaign – is optimally designed for cooperative play experiences. Additionally, players have access to a dedicated PvE mode, Operations, offering a thrilling alternative to the fast-paced multiplayer experience that complements the main storyline.
Warhammer enthusiasts generally express satisfaction with the game’s depiction of its richly detailed lore and fictional universe. Developer Saber Interactive went to great lengths to ensure that the game is as accurate and respectful to the source material as possible.
Area Marine 2 has left a lasting impression on most critics, earning four out of five starts from esteemed reviewer Connor Makar in his VG247 review, with him praising it as one of the most faithful adaptations of Warhammer ever. As the community revels in collective euphoria, it’s hard not to appreciate the sentiment, especially considering the impending doom that looms just weeks away, with the game set to be shut down less than two weeks from now.
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