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, sparking an interest in other 40k titles, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. Now, having extensively played the sequel across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my impressions.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, leveraging cross-progression between my Steam Deck and PS5, and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a complete evaluation necessitates thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing, and official Steam Deck support is planned by year's end.

Witnessing the game's stunning visuals and gameplay on my Steam Deck, and given the cross-progression feature, I was keen to see how it performed. The news is mixed, and I'll cover both aspects in this in-progress review, encompassing gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note that performance overlay screenshots are from my Steam Deck OLED, while 16:9 shots 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 brutal, visually impressive, and incredibly fun, even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. After a concise yet effective tutorial introducing combat and movement, players arrive at the Battle Barge hub. Here, missions are selected, game modes chosen, cosmetics adjusted, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional, with controls and weapons feeling perfectly balanced. While some may favor ranged combat, I found myself captivated by the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes is consistently engaging. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions less appealing.

Playing with a friend overseas, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters – a genre rarely seen at this scale today. It's as addictive as Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4, and 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 has been a refreshing and highly enjoyable co-op experience. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k game, I'm compelled to pause this review and return to the game! The Operations mode, with its diverse classes and mission progression, is highly addictive.

I can't definitively assess the game's full online experience without playing with random players post-launch, but my co-op experiences have been superb. I eagerly anticipate testing the cross-platform online functionality once the game fully launches.

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, coupled with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options that allow for creative self-expression.

A photo mode, accessible in single-player, offers extensive customization options, though some effects appear less polished on Steam Deck using FSR 2 and lower resolutions. However, the photo mode on PS5 is exceptional.

The audio design is top-notch. While the music isn't memorable enough for repeated listening outside the game, it perfectly complements the in-game experience. The real highlight is the superb voice acting and sound design.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers a robust set of graphics options. Epic Online Services are installed, but account linking isn't mandatory. Options include display settings, resolution (800x600 and higher), 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, and many more quality settings.

Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. 16:10 support is also hoped for in a future update.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game features keyboard and mouse controls, 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 also present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Keyboard and mouse remapping is also fully supported. Wireless DualSense support, including adaptive triggers, is noteworthy.

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 it's currently demanding. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips below 30fps. Lowering the resolution doesn't significantly improve performance. I hope future optimization allows for consistent 30fps gameplay. The game also sometimes fails to exit cleanly.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps, even with low settings, results in frequent drops to the low 20s. While visually acceptable, the game is currently too demanding for optimal Steam Deck performance.

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

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were successful, with only minor internet-related disconnections experienced on pre-release servers. Further testing with random players is needed post-launch.

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

On PS5, performance mode provides a mostly smooth experience, though a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved, and dynamic resolution seems to be in use. Load times are quick, and PS5 Activity Cards support is present. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 worked well during the pre-release period, with a two-day cooldown between syncs. The final build's cooldown period remains to be confirmed.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes post-launch.

Desired Features for Future Updates

Future updates should prioritize Steam Deck performance improvements and HDR support. Haptic feedback would also be a welcome addition.

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

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