Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review (in Progress) – GOTY Contender, but Play It Elsewhere for Now

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Deep Dive Review (Steam Deck & PS5)

For years, anticipation for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been building. While I wasn't initially familiar with the original, my exploration of the Warhammer 40,000 universe through titles like Total War: Warhammer, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader piqued my interest. A brief Steam Deck playthrough months ago whetted my appetite, and the game's stunning reveal further solidified my excitement.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing cross-progression across my Steam Deck and PS5 to explore both single-player and online multiplayer. This review is ongoing for two reasons: thorough evaluation requires comprehensive testing of cross-platform multiplayer and public servers; and Focus and Saber are committed to releasing official Steam Deck support by year's end.

The initial Steam Deck experience, coupled with the cross-progression feature, fueled my curiosity about the game's handheld performance. What follows is a comprehensive look at gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note: Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED, while 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 third-person action shooter that seamlessly blends brutal combat, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay, making it accessible even to newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 franchise. The concise tutorial effectively introduces combat and movement mechanics before leading you to the Battle Barge hub, where you manage missions, game modes, and cosmetic adjustments.

The core gameplay loop is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly balanced. While ranged combat is viable, the visceral melee combat is particularly satisfying. The execution animations are consistently engaging, and mowing down hordes of enemies before encountering tougher opponents never grows old. The campaign is enjoyable both solo and in co-op, though I found the defense missions less appealing.

Playing with a friend overseas, the game evoked the feeling of a high-budget co-op shooter reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era, a style rarely seen today. Its addictive quality rivals titles like Earth Defense Force and Gundam Breaker 4. I hope Saber and Focus can 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. Whether it surpasses my other favorite Warhammer 40,000 titles remains to be seen.

My co-op experience has been exceptional thus far, though further testing with random players post-launch is needed for a complete assessment. I eagerly await testing the online functionality with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, the game shines on both PS5 (in 4K on my 1440p monitor) and Steam Deck. The environments are breathtaking, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with detailed textures and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options that allow for creative self-expression.

The photo mode, accessible in single-player, provides extensive control over framing, expressions, character visibility, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck, some effects appear less polished with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 photo mode, conversely, is exceptional.

The audio design is equally impressive. While the music, though good, isn't memorable enough for standalone listening, it perfectly complements the gameplay. The voice acting and overall sound design are top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers a comprehensive suite of graphical settings. While Epic Online Services is integrated, linking an Epic account isn't mandatory. Options include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (quality, balanced, performance, ultra-performance), resolution upscaling (TAA or FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution targeting, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limits, and granular control over various quality settings.

DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned for later. I anticipate substantial Steam Deck performance improvements with FSR 3. 16:10 support is also desired.

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, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Remapping keyboard and mouse bindings is also possible. My DualSense controller, used wirelessly, displayed PlayStation button prompts and supported adaptive triggers, a noteworthy feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is currently suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a stable 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the mid-20s and lower during intense combat. Lower resolutions also fail to consistently achieve 30fps. I hope future updates will improve performance to a playable level.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps, even with low settings, results in frequent drops to the low 20s. While visuals remain acceptable on the Deck's screen, the game is currently too demanding for the handheld. Improper game exit is also an occasional issue.

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

Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck, despite concerns about anti-cheat measures. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth, with only minor internet-related disconnections on pre-release servers. Further testing with random players post-launch is planned.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

Performance mode on PS5 provides a largely positive experience, though a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling causes occasional blurriness during intense combat. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card support streamlines access to different modes and save files. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 functioned well during pre-release testing, though a two-day cooldown period existed between syncs. The final build's behavior regarding this cooldown remains to be confirmed.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Solo Play Value

A definitive assessment of solo play value requires further testing of online matchmaking and the Eternal War (PvP) mode, which hasn't been evaluated yet.

Desired Future Updates

Post-launch updates are anticipated, and I hope to see improved Steam Deck performance, HDR support to enhance the game's already stunning visuals, and haptic feedback on PS5.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While further online multiplayer testing is necessary, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb across both platforms. I currently don't recommend the Steam Deck version due to performance issues, but the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will be provided after additional multiplayer testing and patch updates.

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