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 own journey began with Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other titles in the 40k universe, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. The recent, spectacular reveal of Space Marine 2 ignited my excitement to experience this sequel.

Over the past week, I've dedicated approximately 22 hours to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, leveraging cross-progression across my Steam Deck and PS5, and testing the online capabilities. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: first, a comprehensive assessment requires thorough testing of cross-platform multiplayer and online performance on public servers; second, Focus and Saber Interactive have confirmed upcoming official Steam Deck support, targeted for year-end release.

Given Space Marine 2's stunning visuals and gameplay on the Steam Deck, coupled with cross-progression, I was keen to see its performance on Valve's handheld. The current situation presents both good and bad news, which I'll detail below, covering gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note that screenshots showcasing performance overlays or FPS are from my Steam Deck OLED, while 16:9 images are from my PS5 playthrough. My testing utilized Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that's simultaneously brutal, visually impressive, and incredibly fun, even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces core combat and movement mechanics, leading to the Battle Barge hub where you select missions, game modes, customize your appearance, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional; controls and weapons feel perfectly implemented. While some might favor ranged combat, I personally loved the visceral melee combat. The execution animations are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of weaker enemies before facing tougher foes is consistently engaging. The campaign is highly enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions less appealing.

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 these days. It captivated me in the same way Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4 have, and I sincerely hope Saber and Focus could 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 offers a refreshing experience and ranks among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k title, I'm compelled to pause this review and resume playing. The Operations mode, with its diverse classes and progressive unlocks, is incredibly addictive.

I hesitate to definitively assess the full game's online experience with random players, but my co-op experience has been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality with a broader player base once cross-progression and cross-platform online play launch.

Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, the game is a stunner. On PS5 in 4K mode (played on a 1440p monitor), the visuals are breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies in swarms, coupled with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.

A photo mode, accessible in single-player, offers extensive customization of frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. On Steam Deck, some effects look less polished with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, but on PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.

Audio-wise, while the music is good, it lacks the standout tracks I'd listen to outside the game (similar to my wish for Amon Amarth in God of War 2018). However, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port (tested on Steam Deck) offers extensive graphical options. While Epic Online Services are installed, linking an Epic account isn't mandatory. The graphics settings allow adjustment of display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Quality, Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), resolution upscaling (TAA or FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and numerous quality-related parameters.

The game includes four presets that adjust texture filtering, texture resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned for post-launch. I anticipate significant benefits from FSR 3 on Steam Deck. I also hope for future 16:10 support.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The PC version supports keyboard and mouse, along with 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 available, and disabling Steam Input revealed this option. The control settings allow remapping of keyboard and mouse controls. My DualSense controller (over Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation prompts and even supported adaptive triggers wirelessly – a noteworthy feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

I experienced some freezing during startup on default and Experimental Proton, but Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is currently suboptimal.

At 1280x800 (16:9) using the low preset with FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is impossible, with frequent dips into the mid-20s and lower during intense combat. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. This is far from ideal for this type of game. I hope future optimization achieves a stable 30fps, but it's currently unattainable in my experience (10 hours of playtime on Steam Deck OLED).

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with the low preset occasionally reaches the 30s, but frequent drops to the low 20s persist. While the visuals remain good on the Deck's screen, the game currently pushes the Steam Deck's limits. I also experienced occasional improper exits, requiring manual closure.

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

Importantly, online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck. Testing with a friend in Canada yielded a smooth, enjoyable co-op experience. Occasional internet-related disconnections occurred, but given the pre-release server status, further testing is needed with a wider player base once the game launches.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features – DualSense, Activity Cards, and Performance Mode

On PS5, using performance mode, the game generally performs well, though a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling seems to be in use, causing noticeable blurriness in some large-scale battles. Despite this, based on my playtime, I'd recommend the PS5 version pending cross-platform online testing.

Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards support various modes and save file access. Currently, gyro support is absent on PS5.

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

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 functioned smoothly in my pre-release experience, with a two-day cooldown period between syncs. I've contacted Focus to clarify if this cooldown will remain in the final release.

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

A definitive answer awaits full server population and testing with random players. I will update this review after assessing matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War remains untested at this time.

Desired Features for Future Updates

I anticipate significant post-launch support, and my main requests are improved Steam Deck performance and proper HDR support. The visuals would benefit immensely from HDR. While the DualSense implementation is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition (the blog post mentions haptics are not present at launch).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. Pending further multiplayer testing upon launch, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb across platforms. While I don't recommend the Steam Deck version currently, the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will follow after more extensive multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

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