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 anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. My journey began after playing Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other 40k titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Intrigued, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. Now, having extensively played Space Marine 2 across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my ongoing impressions.

This review is a work in progress. A complete assessment requires thorough testing of cross-platform multiplayer and online functionality on public servers. Furthermore, Focus and Saber are committed to official Steam Deck support by year's end.

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

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a brutal, visually stunning, and engaging third-person action shooter, accessible even to 40k newcomers. A concise tutorial introduces combat and movement before you reach the Battle Barge hub, where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

The moment-to-moment gameplay excels. Controls and weapons feel precise. While ranged combat is viable, the visceral melee combat is a highlight. Executions are satisfying, and clearing waves of enemies before facing stronger foes remains engaging. The campaign is fun solo or with friends in co-op, although defense missions are less appealing.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget co-op shooter reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era – a rarity 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 Warhammer 40,000 experience stems from Total War Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Space Marine 2 is a refreshing and enjoyable co-op experience, potentially a top contender among my favorite co-op games. Whether it surpasses my other favorite 40k titles remains to be seen.

While full launch testing with random players is pending, my co-op experience has been exceptional. I eagerly anticipate testing online functionality with a wider player base.

Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is impressive. The PS5's 4K mode (on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. Environments are detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a vibrant world. This is enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options.

A photo mode (singleplayer) allows adjustments to frames, expressions, characters, FOV, and more. On Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects may appear suboptimal. However, the PS5 photo mode is outstanding.

The audio is equally impressive. While the music, while good, isn't memorable outside 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 options: 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 granular quality settings for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned. 16:10 support is absent but hopefully coming soon.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

Keyboard and mouse controls are available alongside full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts were absent on Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, and button remapping is possible. The DualSense controller (over Bluetooth) displays PlayStation prompts and supports adaptive triggers wirelessly.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration, performance is suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, a stable 30fps is unattainable, with frequent dips below. Dynamic upscaling for a 30fps target also results in frequent drops. The game occasionally fails to exit cleanly.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer

Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck, with no anti-cheat interference. 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

Performance mode on PS5 is mostly excellent, though a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved, and 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-save progression between Steam and PS5 worked well in the pre-release build, with a two-day cooldown period between syncs. The final build's behavior remains to be seen.

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

A definitive answer awaits full launch and testing with random players in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War remains untested at this time.

Desired Features for Future Updates

Post-launch updates should prioritize improved Steam Deck performance and HDR support. Haptic feedback on PS5 would also be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While full multiplayer testing is pending, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are excellent across platforms. I don't recommend Steam Deck play currently, but PS5 performance is highly recommended. A final score will follow post-launch multiplayer testing and patching.

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