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 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 Space Marine 2 across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my evolving impressions.

This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation requires testing cross-platform multiplayer and public server stability; and, critically, Focus and Saber are actively developing official Steam Deck support, slated for year-end release.

Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression and my positive initial Steam Deck experience with the original, I was keen to see how the sequel performed. The news is mixed, and this review will cover gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 enhancements, 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 visceral third-person action shooter – brutal, stunning, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement basics, leading to the Battle Barge hub. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize your appearance, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weapons feel perfectly tuned. While ranged combat is viable, I found immense satisfaction in melee combat's visceral impact. The executions are endlessly satisfying, mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions less engaging.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters – a rarity these days. It captivated me much like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I sincerely hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My Warhammer 40,000 experience stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 provides a refreshing experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k title, the addictive Operations mode, diverse classes, and steady progression keep me hooked.

While full launch testing with random players is pending, my co-op experience has been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a masterpiece. The PS5's 4K mode (on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. Environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, combined with exceptional 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.

The single-player photo mode offers extensive control over frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear less polished. The PS5 photo mode, conversely, is exceptional.

The soundtrack, while not instantly memorable, perfectly complements the gameplay. The true audio stars are the top-tier voice acting and sound design.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, experienced here on Steam Deck, offers a robust suite of options. Epic Online Services integration is present, but account linking isn't mandatory.

Graphics settings include display mode (windowed, borderless, fullscreen), resolution (800x600 and above), render resolution (native, dynamic), quality presets (quality, balanced, performance, ultra performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, fps limit (30, 60, 90, 120, unlimited), and various quality-related adjustments.

Four presets control 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 anticipate significant Steam Deck performance gains with FSR 3. 16:10 support is also hoped for in a future update.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller compatibility. Initially, PlayStation button prompts weren't displayed on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Keyboard and mouse remapping is also available. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation prompts and even supported adaptive triggers wirelessly – a noteworthy feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While initial boot-up freezing occurred on default and experimental Proton, Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. The game is technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration, but performance is currently suboptimal.

At 1280x800 (16:9), using the low preset with FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the mid-20s, and even lower during intense combat. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. This is far from ideal for a game of this nature. While achieving consistent 30fps is hoped for, it's currently unattainable in my 10 hours of Steam Deck OLED playtime.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with the low preset yields better results (reaching the 30s), but drops to the low 20s remain frequent. Visual quality remains good on the Deck's screen, but the game currently pushes the Steam Deck's limits. Improper game exit also occasionally necessitates manual force closure.

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

Online multiplayer functionality on Steam Deck is excellent. Co-op play with a friend in Canada was smooth and enjoyable. Occasional disconnections were attributed to pre-release server instability. Further testing with random players and friends post-launch is planned.

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

Playing on PS5 in performance mode provides a largely positive experience, though a locked 60fps isn't guaranteed. Dynamic resolution or upscaling is evident, resulting in occasional blurriness during large-scale battles. Despite this, the PS5 version is highly recommended, pending cross-platform online testing.

Fast load times and PS5 Activity Card support for various modes and save files are notable features. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 has been successful, albeit with a two-day cooldown period between platform syncs. Confirmation on whether this cooldown persists in the final build is pending.

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 and Patches

Post-launch support is anticipated, with HDR support being a key desired addition to enhance the game's already stunning visuals. While DualSense implementation is impressive, haptic feedback would be a welcome enhancement. The blog post mentions haptics are not included at launch, suggesting future inclusion.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. Pending full online testing with cross-play, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are exceptional across platforms. While not currently recommended for Steam Deck, the PS5 version is highly recommended. A full review with a final score will follow after sufficient multiplayer testing and patch releases.

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