Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2's Steam Deck Gameplay Reviewed

A Deep Dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – A Steam Deck and PS5 Review in Progress

For years, many gamers anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. My journey began later, sparked by Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore the wider 40k game universe, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. The recent reveal of Space Marine 2 heightened my anticipation, especially given my experience with various 40k titles across PC and consoles.

Over the past week, I've dedicated roughly 22 hours to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing both my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online play. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation necessitates testing cross-platform multiplayer and public server stability; Focus and Saber Interactive are committed to official Steam Deck support by year's end.

Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression and my positive initial Steam Deck impressions of the original, I was eager to see how the sequel performed. The results are a mixed bag, detailed below. This review covers 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 third-person action shooter that successfully blends brutality, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay, even for 40k newcomers. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement mechanics before leading you to the Battle Barge hub, where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly tuned. While ranged combat is viable, I personally favored the visceral melee combat and satisfying executions. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions less engaging.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters – a style rarely seen today. It's as captivating as 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 offers a refreshing experience and ranks among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k title, the addictive Operations mode, diverse classes, and steady progression keep me coming back for more.

My co-op experience (pre-launch) has been superb. I eagerly await testing the full online experience with random players and friends once cross-play launches.

Visually, on both PS5 (4K mode on my 1440p monitor) and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is impressive. The environments are stunning, teeming with enemies, and enhanced by detailed textures and lighting. The voice acting, gear, and customization options are equally impressive, allowing for significant creative expression.

The photo mode (available in single-player) offers extensive customization options (frames, expressions, characters, FOV, etc.). However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear suboptimal. The PS5 photo mode, however, is exceptional.

The audio design is top-tier. While the music is good, it doesn't stand out as uniquely memorable. However, the voice acting and sound design are truly excellent.

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 settings are extensive, including display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution targeting, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limits, and granular quality adjustments for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more. DLSS and FSR 2 are included 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 options are available. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation prompts and supported adaptive triggers wirelessly – a noteworthy feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, 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 below. Dynamic upscaling for a 30fps target also results in frequent frame rate drops. The game occasionally fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.

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

Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth, aside from some internet-related disconnections (likely pre-release server issues).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (Performance Mode), the game runs well, though not at a locked 60fps. Dynamic resolution/upscaling is apparent. 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 functioned well (pre-launch), with a two-day cooldown period between syncs. The final build's behavior remains to be seen.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing with the full launch's online population. I will update this review after evaluating matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes.

Desired Future Features

Post-launch updates should prioritize Steam Deck performance improvements and HDR support. Haptic feedback would also be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While online multiplayer testing is pending, the gameplay, visuals, and audio are exceptional. I currently recommend it for PS5 but not Steam Deck due to performance limitations. A full review with a final score will follow after further multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

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