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 initially discovered the franchise through Total War: Warhammer and other titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader, my excitement for this sequel was undeniable. After a captivating reveal, I spent 22 hours across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online play to thoroughly assess this action-packed experience. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing and the pending official Steam Deck support slated for later this year.

My initial Steam Deck foray revealed both promising and challenging aspects. 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 delivers a visceral third-person shooter experience that's both brutal and visually stunning. A concise tutorial introduces combat and movement basics, leading to the Battle Barge hub where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

Gameplay is exceptional; controls and weaponry feel perfectly tuned. While ranged combat is viable, the melee system is particularly satisfying, delivering intensely physical combat. The campaign shines solo or with friends in co-op, though defense missions feel less engaging.

Playing with a friend overseas highlighted the game's resemblance to a high-budget Xbox 360-era co-op shooter – a rarity today. It's highly addictive, reminiscent of 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 knowledge stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 provides a refreshing and enjoyable co-op experience. While it's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 game, the Operations mode, class variety, and progression keep me hooked.

My co-op experience thus far has been superb, though full assessment awaits post-launch testing with random players. The cross-platform online functionality is eagerly anticipated.

Visually, the PS5 version in 4K mode (on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. The environments are stunning, teeming with enemies, and benefit from impressive texture work and lighting. Character voice acting, gear, and customization options further enhance the experience.

A photo mode (available in single-player) offers extensive adjustments. However, on Steam Deck, using FSR 2 and lower resolutions impacts some effects. The PS5 photo mode is exceptional.

Audio is equally impressive. While the soundtrack isn't groundbreaking, the voice acting and sound design are top-notch.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical settings: display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and individual 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.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, and 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 available. DualSense support (including adaptive triggers) works flawlessly wirelessly.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is technically playable on Steam Deck, but performance is currently suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0, maintaining a stable 30fps is challenging, with frequent drops into the 20s. Dynamic upscaling aims for 30fps but still experiences significant dips. The game occasionally requires manual force-closing.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer

Online multiplayer functions well on Steam Deck. Co-op play with a friend was smooth, with only minor internet-related disconnections (likely due to pre-release servers).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (Performance mode), the game runs well, although a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved. Dynamic resolution is likely in use. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards are supported. Gyro controls are absent.

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

Cross-save functionality between Steam and PS5 works with a two-day cooldown period between syncs.

Solo Play Value

A definitive assessment of solo play value awaits post-launch multiplayer testing.

Desired Future Updates

HDR support and haptic feedback are highly desirable additions.

Conclusion

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. Gameplay is exceptional, and visuals and audio are superb. While Steam Deck performance needs improvement, the PS5 version is highly recommended. A full review with a final score will follow post-launch multiplayer testing and patching.

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