Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review (in Progress) – GOTY Contender, but Play It Elsewhere for Now

A Deep Dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – A Steam Deck and PS5 Review in Progress

For years, many Warhammer fans eagerly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. My journey began later, sparked by Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other titles in the franchise, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck, piquing my interest for the sequel. After its impressive reveal, I was eager to experience Space Marine 2.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two reasons: a complete assessment requires thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing and general online stability checks on public servers. Secondly, Focus and Saber Interactive have confirmed ongoing work on official Steam Deck support, targeted for year-end release.

Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression and the promising visuals on my Steam Deck, I was keen to see its performance. The news is mixed, and this review will cover gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 features, and more. Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 screenshots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing utilized Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that's brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise tutorial introduces combat and movement basics, leading to the Battle Barge hub. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize cosmetics, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weapons feel perfect. While some may favor ranged combat, I relished the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew old. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, although I'm less fond of defense missions. Thankfully, their implementation here wasn't overly intrusive.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters, a genre rarely seen today. It hooked me similarly to Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My Warhammer 40,000 knowledge stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 is a refreshing experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. It's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 game, but the addictive Operations mode, class variety, and steady progression keep me coming back for more.

While I haven't fully tested the game with random players post-launch, my co-op experience has been superb. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality with a wider player base once cross-progression and cross-platform play are fully live.

Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a masterpiece. The 4K mode on PS5 (on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. The environments are stunning, and the game's vibrancy is evident in the enemy swarms, textures, and lighting. This is complemented by excellent voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing players to showcase their creativity.

A photo mode is available in single-player, offering adjustments to frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear suboptimal. The PS5 photo mode, however, is exceptional.

The music, while good, isn't memorable enough for repeated listening outside the game, though it perfectly complements the in-game experience. The true audio stars are the voice acting and sound design, both top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical settings. Epic Online Services are integrated, but account linking isn't mandatory. Options include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and various quality-related settings.

Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are included, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I hope for future 16:10 support, as the game currently only supports 16:9.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game features keyboard and mouse controls and full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Remapping keyboard and mouse bindings is also possible. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation button prompts and even supported adaptive triggers wirelessly on PC.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, the game pushes the handheld's limits. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, it struggles to maintain a locked 30fps, frequently dipping into the mid-20s and lower during intense combat. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. This isn't ideal for this type of game. I hope future optimizations achieve a stable 30fps experience. During my 10 hours of gameplay, this wasn't attainable.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with low settings allows for occasional 30fps, but drops to the low 20s are common. The visuals remain good on the Deck's screen, but the game is currently too demanding. The game also sometimes fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions

Online multiplayer works flawlessly on Steam Deck. Testing with a friend in Canada yielded a smooth co-op experience. Occasional internet-related disconnections were encountered, but given the pre-release server status, further testing is needed with a broader player base post-launch.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (Performance mode), the experience is largely positive, though a locked 60fps isn't guaranteed. Dynamic resolution or upscaling seems present, causing occasional blurriness during large battles. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card support is included. Gyro support is currently absent.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 worked well in my pre-release testing, although a two-day cooldown period existed between syncing saves. I'm awaiting confirmation on whether this cooldown will persist in the final release.

Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play Only?

A definitive answer requires further testing with random players post-launch to assess matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War remains untested at this time.

Desired Features for Future Updates

Post-launch support is expected, and I hope for improved Steam Deck performance and proper HDR support to enhance the game's already stunning visuals. Haptic feedback would also be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While further multiplayer testing is needed, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb across both platforms. Currently, I don't recommend playing it on Steam Deck, but the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will be provided after further multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA