Space Marine misses UK Steam release

By Tom Phillips Published 9 September, 2011

PC copies bought elsewhere work fine.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine has failed to appear on the UK Steam store, despite the PC version using Steamworks.

Space Marine's demo similarly failed to turn up last month - with no explanation given.

Another THQ title, Saints Row: The Third, is also missing from the service.

UK retailer Game has strongly denied rumours it is to blame, after a whistleblowing report accused the shop of asking publishers to remove games from Steam in a bid to stifle its digital competitor.

Brink initially failed to appear on the UK Steam store without explanation, although did eventually release. It was suggested publisher Bethesda was asked to keep Brink off of Steam until a month after its retail launch.

Digital versions of Space Marine's PC edition are still available at Direct2Drive and Gamersgate for £35, or via ShopTo.net for £23 (thanks, RPS.

Space Marine developer THQ has refused Eurogamer's repeated requests for comment.

Eurogamer plays W40K: Space Marine.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (42) Latest comment 8 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bad09 #1 9 months ago

    It's just the usual THQ back room dealings with someone in retail (I think GAME have denied it's them). Nothing to see it will turn eventually.

  • nemesisND1derboy #2 9 months ago

    Really strange.

    It's available on the Irish store. Usually if you guys don't get something, we don't either.

    If retailers are bullying publishers into delaying Steam releases, why do Valve allow devs to use Steamworks? In fairness, if I was providing a service for developers to use in their games and a publisher delayed a release on my platform because a retailer was throwing the rattle out of the pram, I'd tell them to get lost. Devs and publishers need Steam more than Steam needs them.

    It's a fact, maybe a sad one, but a fact nonetheless.

  • Shikasama #3 9 months ago

    Steam should come out and openly condemn this crap if it is true.

  • spiderignacio #4 9 months ago

    'Space Marine developer THQ has refused Eurogamer's repeated requests for comment.'

    Probably because of the unfair and cruel review you did of Space Marines.

  • Timbercottage #5 9 months ago

    Shame, I got it for PS3 today and I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far. I can imagine it being even better on the PC

  • bad09 #6 9 months ago

    @spiderignacio

    ignoring questions from EG is more to do with dirty confidential agreement between THQ and whichever retailer/download site (D2D have it.....) is restricting consumers right to buy where they want.

  • azeldazel #7 9 months ago

    Theres actually something going on in retail too with this title on pc, i work for GAME and was told we wont be receiving pc version until saturday, and today was told all we will be stocking is the limited edition version (again not till sat) don't know if this was country wide or just local. Console versiona all came in fine.

  • whoyouknow #8 9 months ago

    Definitely something up with this. Very strange.

  • DozyKipper #9 9 months ago

    I think we're used to it now. These THQ titles will be on Steam in time for the new year's sales.

  • neems #10 9 months ago

    So, uh, when does it unlock on steam in the UK?

  • bobfish09 #11 9 months ago

    I don't think it's GAME stopping it, they couldn't give a rat's arse about PC anything, let alone a niche THQ title.

    This however has happened on EVERY single THQ release this year. I don't know what is behind it, but its really annoying.

  • marmaduke #12 9 months ago

    It's doubly strange, since I downloaded the demo from Steam after going through the Space Marine website and getting a code. I really hope there's not some back room dealing going on, else the Competition Commission will have to get involved

  • streetmagix #13 9 months ago

    I bet it's HMV, they seem to be the only large retailer who actually give a damn about PC Gaming. I would be very sad if it was them though.

  • Haunted_Tree #14 9 months ago

    This is getting a bit crazy. Pre-ordered from D2D, notified by Game Digital email at midnight, now playing through Steam account.

  • nbnz #15 9 months ago

    GAME might have denied it's them, but that doesn't mean it's not them. They have the most clout of any gaming retailer, and which publisher is going to openly say "yep - you can't download it cause we're scared of losing shelf space"?

    Steam of course have to abide by the publishers intructions, and probably aren't privvy to the information on which retailer is screwing Steam customers anyway.

  • repeater #16 9 months ago

    Wouldn't it be slightly funny if this was due to THQ creating their own competing download service?
    Just a little funny? No?
    Edited by repeater at 09/09/11 @ 20:19

  • hiddenranbir #17 9 months ago

    Asked to not show up on Steam even though Steam is mandatory to run the game. Oof.

  • azic #18 9 months ago

    Please for the love of all that is holy... Why GAME, why?
    You haven't cared for years about PC.
    I hope you go bust GAME, you greedy fucking cunts.
    I also hope people turn their back on the WH franchise as well for pandering to GAMES Greed.

  • MerricK #19 9 months ago

    @streetmagix

    HMV care about pc gaming? My local HMV (Sheffield City) center have a shelf with about 100 games, 50% are "chart games" aka 10 games & the rest are bargain basement games.... they dont care about pc games.... My local game has more pc games than both HMV & gamestation.

  • Lord_Gremlin #20 9 months ago

    Don't feel too bad, UK chaps. Console versions missed release date in Russia for example.

  • StooMonster #21 9 months ago

    All we know for sure is that something is happening in the UK market only, and that something is preventing games from being offered on Steam in UK (even if they use SteamWorks) for an arbitrary period of time.

    British retailers seem the logical choice of culprit as there's no other explanation, and no one else benefits.

    So which one is the offender? Perhaps it's the supermarkets? Maybe Tesco and their new download service don't like Steam? They certainly sell a lot of console titles these days.

  • darkmorgado #22 9 months ago

    Who the hell still plays games on PC? This isn't 1998 for fuck's sake!

    Seeing as it's the most popular gaming platform in the world, quite a few people you sad little troll.

  • MattyD #23 9 months ago

    It's not just Steam, I pre-ordered the special edition for my brother and when he turned up at the shop they only had the regular version in stock and had to give him a credit note for the price difference. Very odd.

  • Tyronne #24 9 months ago

    Shannigans I say....shaaaaannnnnnnniiiigaaaaaaaans.....
    Punters shafted once again.

  • azic #25 9 months ago

    Until Game and THQ offer up an explanation as to why? Game are guilty in my book.

    Just so you all know, there are many cheaper and morally sound alternatives to Game! Please everybody boycott game till they stop this behaviour.

    It's not just about PC, they will do this more and more. Spend your money somewhere else... Please.

  • Chaser #26 9 months ago

    They are selling it though their own eshop. I bought it direct online, got the CD key via email and it just installed directly from Steam. Its "on" steam in the UK, just not avaliable to purchase directly from the Steam store.

    I guess THQ just want to preserve their margins - pretty sad considering the extra audience / sales that a steam store listing would bring.
    Edited by Chaser at 10/09/11 @ 16:26

  • StooMonster #27 9 months ago

    @Chaser: Its "on" steam in the UK, just not avaliable to purchase directly from the Steam store. I guess THQ just want to preserve their margins.

    If THQ wanted to preserve their margins, firstly they would play down retail and sell online, secondly they would stop all Steam sales in all countries (not just UK) and other online aggregators (who charge similar percentage) ... this is only happening in Steam Store in the UK.

    So there is something UK specific going on with THQ, some UK only player has enough leverage to demand that THQ do not sell their PC titles through Steam UK (for at least first month).

  • spunkythefunkymunkey #28 9 months ago

    It's obviously Game, they are the only game retailer in the UK with anything like enough clout to force that through.
    They did the same with Brink too, another Steamworks title no less.

    It's pathetic if you ask me, no one who would normally buy it on steam will now go and buy it from Game! If anything they'd go to another digital retailer or just wait for it to appear on Steam later.

  • Azazel #29 9 months ago

    For peeps in the UK, the following link will get you the demo:

    steam://install/55410

  • azic #30 9 months ago

    GAME will hopefully go bust!GAME do not care a shit about PC and yet they manipulate PC games to suite their own ends.I just can't understand all this greed, why the fuck do others like EA, and some retailers want a download store? You will not beat steam, why don't they just sell the fucking steam game codes, or better yet the actual fucking DVD and not keep holding PC games back in favour of consoles. This hardly helps piracy as well. Steam let's me have my games in one place which is what I want and I'm sure others too, plus it has an xbox live feel about it with friends etc If I were in charge of the COD franchise I would deal only with Tescos/Sainsburys/ HMV/ independents and totally shut game out.. Fuck em they are scum.
    Edited by azic at 10/09/11 @ 20:08

  • TheRealBadabing #31 9 months ago

    Furious ranting from azic aside, that's an interesting point. Maybe we have reached a point that publishers can actively punish retailers for their shitty policies.

    Only a big title like CoD would make any real impact on the Game group. Everyone goes to the supermarket so nobody would be affected if Game were excluded from the MW3 release. Even Activision would still get their money as everyone still gives them the same(ish) wholesale value.

    Bit of a Keegan moment but I would fucking love it if that happened.

  • Quixz #32 9 months ago

    Well the game is not all that great anyways.

  • PenguinJim #33 9 months ago

    http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/10/15

  • Rack #34 9 months ago

    I can't understand it. I mean it's impossible not to recognise it but I'm completely incapable of empathising with it

  • StooMonster #35 9 months ago

    gotyourmoney: It's easier to blame the publishers than the retailers, but maybe neither of them are responsible.

    I am interested to know why you think it's easier to blame the publishers, or indeed how you can blame them at all.

    Please explain why the publishers would not release a game via Steam in one country (maybe for a limited time period, maybe not at all) and how that is in their interest.

    Moreover, if it's not the publishers or the British retailers who are responsible, then who else could it be? The British consumers?

    The floor is all yours...

  • StooMonster #36 9 months ago

    gotyourmoney: responsibility for this delay, so it's probably publishers, who, if I'm not mistaken, don't make any extra legitimate money from meatspace sales.

    You are mistaken, publishers make much more money from download sales than they do from retail. Firstly because there is no physical costs to making the product, no cost of warehousing and distribution, so lower costs overall. Secondly, the gross margin on sales via digital aggregators is 70%+ of the price it is sold at, whereas with retail they might get 40% of recommended retail price, so less revenue. More revenue with lower costs equals more money per unit, digital download distribution are loved by publishers.

    This game is being sold on all major digital platforms, as well as retail, but in the UK it's not on Steam but is on other UK download services. The question is, in who's interest is it not for THQ games to be sold on Steam in this single country?

  • azic #37 9 months ago

    Publishers or Retail or both. It's a disgusting way to do business.
    Why has steam been singled out?

    I am furious, because this always happens, and that with the fact that games such as Mass Effect 2 on PSN are £50.00, just to keep retailers happy or at least game happy I suspect. I always buy on PC unless a console exclusive.

    The thing that angers me swell is that Game do not care about PC until it suites them, then they get manipulative.

    They have complained that steam games on metobli hurts them? How so... Nobody in their right mind would use it, and they have said they will stop selling steam games on it! Ok so what but why?

    How does a retailer get so much power? Why do publishers pander to them? They rape publishers with things like pre-order used games etc, and get away with it? Yet they try and stifle a platform they neither care about or do anything for in or out of store.

    Who needs who more.. Publishers here in the UK only need look to supermarkets and they will make their money, they are open 24 hours mostly, and they have far more shelf space and buying power.

    Games make so much money nobody is ever go to stop selling them, it's stupid to think different.

  • TormDK #38 9 months ago

    I pre-ordered my copy on GameStop's Impulse, saved myself about 15 euro compared to the Steam pricing, and got the pre-order content not otherwise available in my country of origin.

    Win-win.

  • spunkythefunkymunkey #39 9 months ago

    I normally wouldn't support closing a business down and people losing their jobs and what not, but GAME really need to just f**k off.
    Their prices suck and so does their service.

  • krakead #40 9 months ago

    @Azazel
    Thanks for the steam:// link - worked a treat! However, after playing the demo for five minutes it became clear that it's a bit shit, isn't it?

    As for the Stream embargo, whether it's down to GAME or other retail pressure - well, they can all just fuck right off. PC gaming has had increasingly piss poor support on the high street, since long before Stream got so big. They've only got themselves to blame for falling sales as they're too busy chasing the easy money from console sales. So why don't they just leave the selling of PC games to those who actually care about and support the platform rather than just parasitically feed off a few AAA titles and then ignore the rest?
    Edited by krakead at 12/09/11 @ 22:47

  • Rehok #41 8 months ago

    i ordered this game just now and got told from GAME that i have preordered the download of it in my e-mail

  • Azradesh #42 8 months ago

    There was only one PC copy in the whole of my town and Game wanted to sell it for £39.99 even though it was £29.99 on their own website. Oh and they didn't have any copies online even when they said they did, plenty of PS3 and 360 version though.