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 fans eagerly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. My own journey began after playing Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other titles in the franchise, such as Boltgun and Rogue Trader. I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck months ago. Now, having extensively played various Warhammer 40,000 games across PC and console, I was thrilled to experience the sequel following its impressive reveal.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on 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 evaluation of public servers; and Focus and Saber Interactive have confirmed they're developing official Steam Deck support, aiming for release by year's end.

Given the game's stunning visuals and gameplay on the Steam Deck, coupled with cross-progression, I was eager to see how it performed on Valve's handheld. The results are a mixed bag, which I'll detail in this in-progress review, covering gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 features, and more. Note: 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 that's simultaneously brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for Warhammer 40,000 newcomers. After a concise yet effective tutorial introducing combat and movement, you'll reach your primary hub, the Battle Barge. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize your appearance, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional, with controls and weaponry feeling perfectly balanced. While some might favor ranged combat, I personally loved the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before encountering tougher foes remains 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 take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters, a genre rarely seen today. It hooked me much like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4, and I hope Saber and Focus could 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 experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 title, the addictive nature of Operations mode with a friend, exploring classes and unlocking content, keeps me coming back for more.

While I haven't yet fully tested the game with random players, my co-op experience has been superb. I eagerly anticipate a more comprehensive online evaluation once cross-play is fully active.

Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, the game is a masterpiece. The PS5's 4K mode (played on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. The environments are meticulously detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, combined with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. The voice acting and customization options further enhance the game's appeal.

A photo mode, accessible in single-player, allows for extensive adjustments. However, on the Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear less polished. The PS5's photo mode, however, is exceptional.

The audio design is equally impressive. While the music is good, it doesn't quite reach the same heights as the top-tier voice acting and sound design.

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. Extensive graphics options are available, including display settings, resolution scaling (TAA or FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution targeting, V-sync, brightness adjustment, motion blur, FPS limits, and numerous quality settings with presets (Quality, Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance).

DLSS and FSR 2 support are present, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant Steam Deck performance improvements with FSR 3. I also hope for 16:10 support in future updates.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game offers keyboard and mouse controls, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts weren't displayed on the Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Remapping of keyboard and mouse controls is also possible. Wireless DualSense support, including adaptive triggers, is noteworthy.

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. While technically playable on the Steam Deck without configuration changes, the performance is suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the 20s. Lower resolutions also result in sub-30fps performance. I hope future optimizations improve this. The game also sometimes fails to exit cleanly.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with low settings improves performance, but still experiences dips. While visually acceptable, the game currently pushes the Steam Deck's limits.

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

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on the Steam Deck. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth. Occasional internet-related disconnections were encountered, but these are likely pre-release server issues.

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

The PS5 performance mode delivers a mostly smooth experience, though a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved, and dynamic resolution scaling is apparent. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards enhance usability. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 is functional, with a two-day cooldown period between platform syncs.

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

This question requires further testing once servers are fully populated. I'll update this section after playing with random players. Eternal War (PvP) mode remains untested.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Features I Want to See in Updates

Beyond Steam Deck performance improvements, HDR support would significantly enhance the game's already stunning visuals. Haptic feedback would also be a welcome addition.

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

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