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 wider 40k universe, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck, piquing my interest for the sequel. The recent reveal only heightened my excitement.
Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing cross-progression between my Steam Deck and PS5, and testing the online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a comprehensive assessment requires thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing, and Focus and Saber are actively developing official Steam Deck support, slated for release by year's end.
Given the game's stunning visuals and gameplay on Steam Deck, and the availability of cross-progression, I was eager to see how it performed on Valve's handheld. The current situation presents both good and bad news, which I'll detail below. This review covers gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 features, and more. Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 screenshots 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; brutal, visually impressive, and undeniably fun – even for 40k newcomers. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement basics before leading you to the Battle Barge, your central hub for mission selection, game mode choices, cosmetic adjustments, and more.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weapons feel perfectly tuned. While some may favor ranged combat, I found immense satisfaction in visceral melee encounters. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing stronger foes never grew tiresome. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I'm less fond of defense missions – thankfully, their implementation here isn't overly intrusive.
Playing with a friend overseas, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters – a genre rarely seen today. It captivated me as much 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 primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 offers 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 nature of Operations mode with a friend, coupled with class variety and progressive unlocks, keeps me coming back for more.
My co-op experience so far has been superb, though a definitive judgment awaits full launch and testing with random players. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality with cross-progression and cross-platform play.
Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, the game is a stunner. The PS5's 4K mode (played on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. Environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with impressive texture work and lighting, creates a vibrant and immersive world. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.
A photo mode, accessible in single-player, offers adjustments to frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. Note that on Steam Deck, some effects may appear suboptimal with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. However, the PS5 photo mode is exceptional.
The audio is equally impressive. While the music is good, it's not something I'd listen to extensively outside the game. However, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options
My Steam Deck experience allows me to comment on the PC port's features. The game installs Epic Online Services, but account linking isn't mandatory. Graphics options include adjustments for display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and various quality settings.
Four presets adjust 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 benefits from this on Steam Deck upon release, and hope for 16:10 support in future updates.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options
The PC port offers keyboard and mouse controls, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further highlighting the benefits of disabling Steam Input. Keyboard and mouse remapping is also available. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation prompts and supported adaptive triggers wirelessly – a noteworthy feature.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance
I experienced some freezing during initial game loading on default Proton and Experimental, but Proton GE 9-9 was stable. While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is currently suboptimal.
At 1280x800 (16:9) with low presets and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is impossible. Frequent dips into the mid-20s occur during intense combat, and lower frame rates are possible. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. This isn't ideal for a game of this caliber. I hope future optimization allows for consistent 30fps performance, but it's currently unattainable in my 10 hours of Steam Deck OLED gameplay.
Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with low presets yields frame rates in the 30s, but drops to the low 20s are common. Visually, it still looks good on the Deck's screen, but the game is currently too demanding for the handheld. Occasionally, the game fails to exit properly, requiring manual closure.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions
Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck. Co-op play with a friend in Canada was smooth and enjoyable. Occasional internet-related disconnections occurred, but given the pre-release server status, further testing with random players and friends post-launch is necessary.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features – DualSense, Activity Cards, and Performance Mode
My PS5 experience focuses on performance mode. While largely positive, a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling is evident, resulting in occasional blurriness during large-scale battles. Overall, I recommend Space Marine 2 on PS5, pending cross-platform online testing.
Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card support streamlines access to various modes and saves. Gyro support is currently absent.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression
Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 is functional (though a two-day cooldown exists between platform syncs). I've contacted Focus to clarify if this cooldown remains in the final build.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play Only?
A definitive answer awaits post-launch server population testing. I'll update this section after experiencing matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War testing is pending.
Desired Features in Updates and Patches
Post-launch support is expected, and my primary desires include improved Steam Deck performance and proper HDR support. The game's visuals would benefit greatly from HDR. While DualSense implementation is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition (the blog post mentions its absence at launch).
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. Pending full online testing, the gameplay is sublime, and the visuals and audio are exceptional across both platforms. I don't recommend playing on Steam Deck currently, but the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will follow multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA
