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, sparking an interest in the broader 40k universe and leading me to titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. A preliminary foray into the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck piqued my curiosity for the sequel. After its impressive reveal, I was keen to experience Space Marine 2.
Over the past week, I've dedicated approximately 22 hours to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing both my Steam Deck and PS5 thanks to cross-progression, and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a comprehensive assessment necessitates thorough testing of cross-platform multiplayer and public server stability; and Focus and Saber Interactive have confirmed upcoming official Steam Deck support, targeting release by year's end.
Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression and visually stunning presentation on the Steam Deck, I was eager to see how it performed. The news is mixed, and this review will cover gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 enhancements, 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 is a third-person action shooter that seamlessly blends brutality, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay, making it accessible even to newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces core combat and movement mechanics, leading to the Battle Barge hub where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional, with controls and weaponry feeling perfectly balanced. While ranged combat is viable, the visceral melee combat is particularly satisfying. The executions are consistently thrilling, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes remains engaging. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, although defense missions are less compelling.
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's as captivating as Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4, and I hope Saber and Focus can collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.
My 40k experience 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 premature to declare it my favorite 40k game, the addictive Operations mode, class variety, and steady progression keep me hooked.
While a definitive judgment awaits full launch and random matchmaking, my co-op experience has been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing online functionality with a broader player base.
Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a masterpiece. 4K mode on PS5 (played on a 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with exceptional texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative character expression.
A photo mode, accessible in single-player, offers extensive adjustments. However, on the Steam Deck, some effects appear suboptimal with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 version's photo mode is exceptional.
The audio is equally impressive. While the soundtrack isn't groundbreaking, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier. The music effectively complements the gameplay.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options
The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical customization. Epic Online Services are 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 targeting, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limits, 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 didn't display correctly on Steam Deck with Steam Input enabled, but disabling it resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, and button remapping is 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, performance is a limiting factor. At 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the 20s. Even at lower resolutions, frame rate drops occur. I hope future optimizations will achieve consistent 30fps performance. The game also occasionally fails to exit cleanly.
Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps shows improvement, but still experiences drops. While visually acceptable, Space Marine 2 currently pushes the Steam Deck's capabilities.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions
Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck, despite potential anti-cheat concerns. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth. Minor internet-related disconnections were experienced, but these are expected with pre-release servers.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features
Performance mode on PS5 delivers a mostly smooth experience, though a locked 60fps isn't guaranteed, and dynamic resolution 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-progression between Steam and PS5 is functional, with a two-day cooldown period between platform syncs. I'm awaiting confirmation on whether this cooldown persists in the final release.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play?
A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking and Eternal War (PvP) mode. This review will be updated accordingly.
Desired Features for Future Updates
Post-launch updates are anticipated. Key improvements include proper HDR support to enhance the game's already stunning visuals, and haptic feedback for the DualSense controller.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While online multiplayer testing is ongoing, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are exceptional. I currently recommend it for PS5 but not Steam Deck due to performance limitations. A final score will be provided after further multiplayer testing and patch releases.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA
