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, a sequel to the original Space Marine. My journey began later, sparked by Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other titles in the 40k universe, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. Now, having extensively played various 40k games across PC and console, I'm thrilled to review Space Marine 2, especially after its impressive reveal.
Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing both my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing online functionality. This review remains a work in progress for two key reasons: a comprehensive assessment requires thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing and evaluation of public servers. Secondly, Focus and Saber Interactive have confirmed ongoing development of official Steam Deck support, targeting completion by year's end.
Given Space Marine 2's stunning visuals and gameplay on the Steam Deck, coupled with cross-progression, I was eager to see its performance on Valve's handheld. The results are a mixed bag, and I'll detail everything in this ongoing review, covering gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note: Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED, while 16:9 shots 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 newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Following a concise yet effective tutorial introducing combat and movement mechanics, players arrive at the Battle Barge hub, where missions, game modes, cosmetics, and more are managed.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional; controls and weaponry feel perfectly implemented. While some might favor ranged combat, I personally loved the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew old. The campaign is engaging solo or with friends in co-op, though I'm less enthusiastic about defense missions—fortunately, they're not overly intrusive here.
Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, co-op shooter reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era—a style rarely seen today. It captivated me similarly to 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 has been a refreshing experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k title, I'm compelled to pause this review and jump back into the game. I'm hooked on Operations mode with a friend, experimenting with classes and progressing through missions and unlocks.
I hesitate to offer a definitive judgment without experiencing Space Marine 2's full launch with random players, but my co-op experience so far is outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality this week with cross-progression and cross-platform play enabled.
Visually, my assessment covers PS5 and Steam Deck performance. On PS5, the 4K mode (played on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. While trailers showcased its quality, the in-game environments and the sense of immersion are truly remarkable, enhanced by the sheer number of enemies, detailed textures, and impressive lighting. This is further complemented 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 the Steam Deck, some frames and effects appear less polished when using FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 photo mode, however, is exceptional.
Regarding audio, I wasn't sure what to expect from the music. While Bolt Thrower's "Realm of Chaos" would have been ideal (similar to wishing for Amon Amarth in God of War 2018), the voice acting and sound design are top-tier. The music is good, though not memorable enough for repeated listening outside the game. It functions perfectly within the game's context.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options
How does the PC port fare? My experience is limited to the Steam Deck, but I can still discuss its features. Launching the game installs Epic Online Services, though linking an Epic account isn't mandatory.
Graphics options include display settings (windowed, borderless, fullscreen), resolution (800x600 and above), render resolution (native, dynamic), quality presets (balanced, performance, ultra performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, fps limit (30, 60, 90, 120, unlimited), and various quality-related settings.
Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation.
As previously noted, the PC version includes DLSS and FSR 2 support, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. This should benefit Steam Deck performance upon release. I also hope for future 16:10 support, as the game currently only supports 16:9.
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 didn't display on the Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. An adaptive trigger option is available, further prompting me to disable Steam Input. This menu also allows remapping keyboard and mouse bindings. Using a DualSense controller over Bluetooth displays PlayStation prompts and even supports adaptive triggers wirelessly—a less common feature worth noting.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance
Before discussing visuals and performance, I experienced freezing (only during startup) on default and experimental Proton, but not with Proton GE 9-9. Technically, Space Marine 2 is playable on the Steam Deck without configuration changes. However, it pushes the handheld's limits.
At 1280x800 (16:9) using the low preset with FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is impossible. Frequent dips into the mid-20s occur during intense combat, and even lower frame rates are possible. Even at lower resolutions, it falls below 30fps. This isn't ideal for a game of this nature. I hope future optimization achieves a stable 30fps, but it's currently unattainable based on my 10 hours of playtime on my Steam Deck OLED.
Using dynamic upscaling for a 30fps target and the low preset, it occasionally reaches the 30s, but drops to the low 20s frequently. The visuals remain good on the Deck's screen, but Space Marine 2 is currently too demanding for the Steam Deck. Occasionally, the game doesn't exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions
Despite performance challenges, I wanted to confirm online playability on the Steam Deck. Some games employ anti-cheat measures that block online play on Proton or Linux. Thankfully, Space Marine 2 functions perfectly online. Testing with a friend in Canada resulted in several hours of enjoyable co-op gameplay. The only issue was occasional internet-related disconnections, likely due to pre-release server instability. I'll retest with a wider player base post-launch.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features – DualSense, Activity Cards, and Performance Mode
Having also played on PS5, I'll cover its performance. Performance mode feels mostly excellent, though a locked 60fps isn't guaranteed. Dynamic resolution or upscaling seems to be in effect, as noticeable blurring occurred during large-scale battles. Despite this, I'd recommend Space Marine 2 on PS5, pending cross-platform online testing.
Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card support streamlines access to different modes and saves. Currently, gyro support is absent on PS5. I'll update this section if that changes.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression
Currently, progress transfers between Steam and PS5, though a two-day cooldown exists before resyncing. I've contacted Focus to clarify if this cooldown persists in the final build.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play Only?
This question requires further evaluation, as server populations will increase at launch. I'll update this once I've played with randoms and assessed matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes—the latter of which I haven't yet tested.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Features I Want to See
Post-launch support is expected, and my primary wish is for improved Steam Deck performance and proper HDR support. The game's visuals would benefit significantly from HDR. While DualSense trigger and vibration implementation is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition. The blog post mentions haptics are not included at launch, suggesting future inclusion.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While online multiplayer testing remains incomplete, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are top-notch across both platforms. I currently don't recommend it on Steam Deck, but it's easily recommended on PS5. A full review with a final score will follow after further multiplayer testing and patch updates.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA
