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, anticipation has built for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a sequel many fans have eagerly awaited. My own journey began with Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore the broader Warhammer 40,000 universe and titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck, piquing my interest for the sequel. Following its impressive reveal, I was eager to experience Space Marine 2.

Over the past week, I've dedicated approximately 22 hours to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a complete assessment requires thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing, and official Steam Deck support is slated for release by year's end.

Given Space Marine 2's stunning visuals and gameplay on Steam Deck, coupled with its cross-progression feature, I was keen to see its performance on Valve's handheld. The results are a mixed bag, which I'll detail below, covering gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note: Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 screenshots 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's simultaneously brutal, visually striking, and incredibly fun, even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement mechanics before you reach the Battle Barge, your central hub for mission selection, game mode choices, cosmetic adjustments, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional, with controls and weaponry feeling perfectly tuned. While some might favor ranged combat, I found immense satisfaction in the visceral melee combat. The executions are endlessly entertaining, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew tiresome. The campaign is highly enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions less engaging. Fortunately, these missions didn't significantly detract from the overall experience.

Playing with a friend overseas, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget take on the co-op shooters of the Xbox 360 era – a style rarely seen today. It captivated me much like Earth Defense Force or the recent Gundam Breaker 4. I sincerely hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to revitalize the original game's campaign with a modern update.

My Warhammer 40,000 knowledge stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 provides a refreshing experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's premature to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 game, the addictive nature of the Operations mode with a friend, coupled with the diverse classes and steady progression, keeps me returning for more.

While I haven't yet fully tested Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 with random players, my co-op experiences have been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality more extensively upon the game's full release.

Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, the game is a stunning achievement. The 4K mode on PS5, viewed on my 1440p monitor, is breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies in swarms, combined with exceptional texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by the 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 the Steam Deck, using FSR 2 and lower resolutions can impact the visual quality of some frames or effects. On PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.

The audio design is equally impressive. While the music, while good, isn't exceptionally memorable, the voice acting and overall 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 (quality, balanced, performance, ultra-performance), resolution upscaling (TAA or FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and numerous quality settings. 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 benefits from FSR 3. 16:10 support would be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, as well as full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display on my Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger options are available, and disabling Steam Input also revealed the ability to remap keyboard and mouse bindings. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displays PlayStation button prompts and supports adaptive triggers wirelessly on PC – a noteworthy feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

I experienced some initial freezing on default Proton and Experimental, but Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. The game is technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration, but performance is currently suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips. Lower resolutions also result in frame rate drops below 30fps. While I hope future optimization will improve this, it's currently not ideal. The game also sometimes fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.

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

Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck. I successfully played co-op with a friend in Canada, experiencing only minor internet-related disconnections (likely due to pre-release servers). Further testing with random players and friends is planned upon launch.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

In performance mode, the PS5 experience is largely positive, though a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling seems to be in use. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card support is included. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 is functional (with a two-day cooldown). I've contacted Focus to clarify if this cooldown will persist in the final release.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War remains untested at this time.

Desired Future Updates and Patches

Post-launch support is expected. Key improvements include enhanced Steam Deck performance and HDR support. While DualSense implementation is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While online multiplayer testing requires completion, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb across platforms. I currently don't recommend the Steam Deck version, but the PS5 version is highly recommended. A full review with a final score will follow after further multiplayer testing and patching.

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