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 gamers eagerly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a sequel to the original Space Marine. My own journey began with Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore the broader 40k universe, including titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Intrigued, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck months ago. Now, having extensively played the sequel across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my in-progress review, focusing on its Steam Deck performance.

This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough testing of cross-platform multiplayer and online functionality on public servers is crucial, and official Steam Deck support is promised by Focus and Saber by year's end.

Having witnessed the game's stunning visuals and gameplay on the Steam Deck, and given its cross-progression feature, I was keen to see how it performs. The news is mixed, and I'll detail both the positive and negative aspects. This review covers gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note: Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 shots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing was conducted on Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that's brutal, visually impressive, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. A concise tutorial introduces combat and movement basics before you reach the Battle Barge hub, where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weapons feel perfectly implemented. While ranged combat is viable, the visceral melee combat is a standout. Executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes remains engaging. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, although defense missions are less appealing.

Playing with a friend overseas, the game felt like a high-budget, co-op shooter reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era – a style rarely seen today. It's as captivating as Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My 40k knowledge stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 is a refreshing and enjoyable co-op experience. While it's premature to declare it my favorite 40k game, I'm hooked on the Operations mode with a friend, experimenting with classes and unlocking content.

While I haven't played with randoms yet, my co-op experience has been superb. I'm eager to test the online functionality with a broader player base once the game fully launches.

Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, the game is stunning, particularly in 4K on PS5 (played on a 1440p monitor). The environments are detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, texture work, and lighting create a vibrant world. The voice acting and customization options are also impressive.

A photo mode (available in single-player) allows adjustments to frames, expressions, characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear less polished. On PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.

The audio is equally impressive. While the music isn't groundbreaking (though perfectly suitable for the game), 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 settings: display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and various quality-related options. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I hope for future 16:10 support.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts weren't displayed on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, and button remapping is available. The DualSense controller (over Bluetooth) works flawlessly, even supporting adaptive triggers wirelessly.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

On Steam Deck, the game is technically playable without configuration changes, but it's demanding. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, it struggles to maintain a locked 30fps, often dipping below. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fluctuate. I hope future optimization allows for consistent 30fps performance. The game also occasionally has issues exiting correctly.

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

Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck. Co-op play with a friend in Canada was smooth, aside from occasional internet-related disconnections (likely due to pre-release servers).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (Performance mode), the game runs well but doesn't maintain a locked 60fps. Dynamic resolution seems to be in use. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards are supported. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 is functional (with a two-day cooldown period between syncs).

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

A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking with random players. I'll update this section after launch.

Desired Features for Future Updates

I hope for improved Steam Deck performance, HDR support, and haptic feedback on PS5.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. The gameplay is excellent, and the visuals and audio are superb across both platforms. While I don't recommend playing it on Steam Deck currently, the PS5 version is highly recommended. A full review with a score will follow after more extensive multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

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