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 titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. Now, after the impressive reveal of the sequel, I've dedicated roughly 22 hours across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online multiplayer testing. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough cross-platform multiplayer evaluation and the pending official Steam Deck support promised by Focus and Saber by year's end.
Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression and stunning visuals on Steam Deck, I was keen to see how it performed. The news is mixed, and this review will cover 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 shots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing utilized Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a visceral third-person shooter. The tutorial is concise yet effective, introducing combat and movement basics before dropping you into the Battle Barge hub. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize cosmetics, and more.
The core gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly tuned. While some might favor ranged combat, I relished the brutal melee, finding the close-quarters combat incredibly satisfying. The executions are consistently thrilling, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew old. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions somewhat tedious.
Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters – a genre rarely seen today. It captivated me, much like 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 is a refreshing and highly enjoyable co-op experience. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k game, I'm thoroughly hooked on the Operations mode, experimenting with classes and progressing through missions and unlocks.
I can't definitively assess solo play without experiencing the full game's matchmaking with random players, but my co-op experience has been superb. I eagerly await testing the online functionality with a wider player base.
Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, the game is a stunner. On PS5 in 4K (on my 1440p monitor), it's breathtaking. The environments are meticulously detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, alongside excellent texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.
A photo mode, accessible in single-player, allows adjustments to frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear less polished. On PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.
The audio is equally impressive. While the music is good, it's not memorable enough for standalone listening. However, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options
The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical settings. Epic Online Services is integrated, but account linking isn't mandatory. Options include 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 granular quality settings for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I hope for future 16:10 support.
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, and remapping is fully customizable. The DualSense controller (over Bluetooth) displays PlayStation prompts and even supports adaptive triggers wirelessly.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance
While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is currently suboptimal. At 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, it struggles to maintain a stable 30fps, frequently dipping into the low 20s. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates remain inconsistent. I hope future updates improve performance to a playable 30fps. The game also occasionally fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions
Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck. I successfully tested co-op with a friend in Canada. Minor internet-related disconnections occurred, but these are expected on pre-release servers. Further testing with random players is pending the full launch.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features
On PS5, performance mode delivers a mostly smooth experience, though a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling seems to be in use. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards are supported. Gyro support is currently absent.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression
Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 worked well in my pre-release testing, though a two-day cooldown period exists between syncing. I'm awaiting confirmation on whether this cooldown will remain in the final release.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play Only?
A full assessment requires more testing of online matchmaking and the Eternal War (PvP) mode.
Desired Future Features
Post-launch updates should prioritize improved Steam Deck performance and HDR support. Haptic feedback on PS5 would also be a welcome addition.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. The gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are top-notch. While I await further multiplayer testing, I currently recommend it for PS5 but not Steam Deck due to performance issues. A final score will follow after more extensive multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA
