Look, let’s be real. There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium only to have a random level 3 Sniper join your Ruthless difficulty run and immediately trigger every Extremis-level threat on the map. We’ve all been there. You just wanted to test out a specific build or maybe record some footage without a stranger sprinting ahead and stealing all the Gene-seed. Thankfully, Saber Interactive finally listened to the community’s collective shouting and implemented the Space Marine 2 private lobby system.
It wasn't always there. At launch, the lack of private sessions was honestly a bit of a nightmare for anyone who didn't have a full squad of three friends ready to go at all times. You were basically forced into the matchmaking meat grinder. Now? It’s a different story, though the UI is still a little clunky if you aren't looking in the right place.
Why the Space Marine 2 Private Lobby Actually Matters
Most people think private lobbies are just for solo players. That's a huge misconception. In a game like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, the AI bots are actually... surprisingly decent? They aren't going to carry you through a Tier 4 operation by themselves, but they follow instructions well and, more importantly, they stay out of your way.
Using a private session lets you dictate the pace. If you want to spend twenty minutes scouring the corner of a Hive City for hidden Dataslates, you can do that. In a public match, you’re usually pressured by the "speedrunner" who has played the Inferno mission 400 times and refuses to stop for anything.
The Space Marine 2 private lobby is essentially your laboratory. It’s where you go to figure out if that new Melta Rifle perk actually works the way the tooltip says it does. Since the game doesn't have a traditional "training room" for Operations mode, this is your best bet for stress-testing your Vanguard or Bulwark without letting down a team of real people.
How to Toggle Private Mode
Getting into a private game isn't as intuitive as clicking a giant button that says "Go Private." You have to be on the Battle Barge. Once you’re there, head to the terminal where you select your missions.
Look at the top right of the screen. You’ll see the game mode selection. If you’re in "Operations," you can toggle between Public and Private. It’s a simple button press—usually 'R' on a keyboard or a specific prompt on your controller—but it’s easy to miss because the game defaults to Public every time you restart.
- Step One: Approach the mission terminal.
- Step Two: Switch the mode at the top of the interface.
- Step Three: Confirm that the matchmaking status says "Private" before you step into the launch bay.
If you see a countdown timer or a "searching for players" message, you messed up. Back out. Try again.
The Bot Problem (And the Bot Solution)
When you launch a Space Marine 2 private lobby, the empty slots are filled by AI Battle-Brothers. Usually, you’ll get a tactical marine and maybe a sniper. They have infinite ammo. Think about that for a second. While they don't do massive damage, they are excellent at drawing aggro from Tyranid Warriors or those annoying Rubric Marines while you focus on the objective.
The downside? Bots don't interact with objectives. If you need to carry a battery or stand in a specific zone to defend a position, the AI will just wander around you and shoot things. You’re doing the heavy lifting. This makes certain missions, like the one with the chains in the cathedral, significantly harder solo than with even one semi-competent human.
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Dealing with Progression and Rewards
A major concern players had early on was whether private play would nerf their experience gains. It doesn't. You get the same Requisition points and the same Armoury Data.
Actually, in some ways, it's faster.
If you are farming for purple or gold Armoury Data, running a Space Marine 2 private lobby on a map you know by heart—like Decapitation—is often more efficient. You aren't waiting for people to load in. You aren't dealing with laggy hosts. You just drop in, kill the Hive Tyrant, and get out.
Common Glitches to Watch Out For
Let's talk about the bugs. Not the Tyranid kind. The code kind.
Sometimes, the Space Marine 2 private lobby toggle just... breaks. You’ll set it to private, walk into the red circle to start the mission, and suddenly the game starts "Joining Server" and puts you in a lobby with "xX_ChaosLord_Xx." It’s frustrating.
To avoid this, make sure your group privacy settings in the actual game menu are also set to "Friends Only" or "Invite Only." Sometimes the mission terminal toggle and the social menu toggle get into a fight. If you’re truly paranoid about randoms joining, set yourself to "Offline" on Steam or your console's network settings, though this can sometimes mess with your ability to earn rewards if the game loses connection to the Saber servers.
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Expert Strategies for Solo Operations
If you’re diving into the Space Marine 2 private lobby specifically to play alone, you need to change your mindset. You aren't a cog in a machine anymore; you are the machine.
- Pick the Right Class: A solo Assault is a death wish on higher difficulties. You want something with survivability. The Bulwark is fantastic because of the shield. The Vanguard is great because the Grapnel Launcher allows you to escape when you get swarmed.
- Focus on Executions: Since your bot teammates won't always prioritize the enemies that are flashing red, you have to be a shark. Executions are your only way to keep your armor up. In a private lobby, you don't have to worry about a teammate "stealing" your execution and leaving you vulnerable.
- Control the Choke Points: The AI is actually pretty good at holding a doorway. If you find a narrow corridor, let the bots stand in front. They can soak up an incredible amount of damage while you pick off the ranged enemies in the back.
The "Joining in Progress" Quirk
Interestingly, you can start a mission in a Space Marine 2 private lobby and then invite a friend later. The game handles this pretty well. The bot will simply vanish into thin air, and your buddy will take their place. This is great if you're waiting for someone to finish their dinner but want to start the first ten minutes of a mission.
Just remember: you cannot switch back to "Public" once the mission has started. Once you've committed to a private run, the matchmaking pool is closed to the general public until you head back to the Battle Barge.
What’s Missing?
While the current system is a massive improvement over the launch state, it isn't perfect. We still don't have a way to pick which bots join us. I'd love to have a specialized AI team—maybe a dedicated Medic or a heavy gunner—but for now, we get what we're given.
There's also the issue of the "Join Code." If you’re trying to play with one friend and keep the third slot for a bot, the Space Marine 2 private lobby is your only real option. Share that invite code early. If you wait until you’re mid-firefight, the menu navigation might just get you killed.
Practical Steps for Your Next Session
If you want the smoothest experience possible, follow this exact ritual. It sounds overkill, but it saves time in the long run.
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- Check your version: Ensure the game is updated. Saber pushes "hotfixes" that sometimes reset your privacy settings.
- Set the Social Menu first: Go to your social tab and ensure your squad is set to "Invite Only."
- The Terminal Toggle: Approach the terminal, select "Operations," and hit the button to switch to "Private."
- Verify the Text: Look for the "Private" tag in the upper right. If it isn't there, don't walk into the ship.
- Equip for Self-Sufficiency: Don't rely on "team buffs" that require other players to be nearby. Build your marine to be a solo powerhouse.
The Space Marine 2 private lobby isn't just a "solo mode." It’s a way to reclaim the atmosphere of the game. When you’re playing with randoms, the dialogue is often drowned out by heavy breathing on mics or the sound of someone eating chips. Playing privately lets you actually hear the incredible sound design and the banter between the Ultramarines. It makes the world feel bigger, more dangerous, and a lot more immersive.
Stop letting random players ruin your tactical plans. Use the toggle. Trust the bots. Purge the heretics on your own terms.
Next Steps for Success
To make the most of your private sessions, head to the Armoury and focus on unlocking perks that trigger on "Perfect Dodges" or "Parries." Since you'll be the primary target for every enemy on the map, these defensive perks will keep you alive much longer than pure damage buffs. Also, try running the "Inferno" operation on a lower difficulty first just to get the hang of how the AI bots move; they tend to follow your lead, so if you stay mobile, they will too. Finally, keep an eye on the official Space Marine 2 community forums or the Discord for any server-side changes to the private lobby logic, as Saber has been tweaking the matchmaking backend frequently since the big update.