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

For years, many 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 games like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. Now, with the sequel's release, I've dedicated approximately 22 hours across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough cross-platform multiplayer evaluation and pending official Steam Deck support (expected by year's end).

My Steam Deck experience utilizes Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental. The 16:9 screenshots are from my PS5 playthrough.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that's brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. The tutorial is concise yet effective, setting the stage for the main hub—the Battle Barge—where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

The gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly balanced. While ranged combat is viable, the visceral melee combat is a highlight. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes is consistently engaging. The campaign is enjoyable solo or cooperatively, though defense missions feel somewhat less compelling.

Playing with a friend overseas, the game felt like a high-budget take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters—a genre rarely seen with this level of polish 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 40k knowledge 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, the Operations mode, class variety, and steady progression keep me hooked.

My co-op experience (pre-full launch) has been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the full online functionality with random players and friends.

Visually, the game is breathtaking, especially in 4K on PS5. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, combined with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options. The level of care in the customization is evident.

The single-player photo mode offers extensive adjustments (frames, expressions, FOV, etc.), though some effects appear less polished on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. On PS5, however, the photo mode is exceptional.

The audio is equally impressive. While the music isn't groundbreaking, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier. The music fits the game perfectly.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers a robust set of graphics options: display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution target, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and individual settings for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned for later. 16:10 support is absent, hopefully to be added in a future update.

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 works wirelessly with the DualSense controller.

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 stable 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the 20s. Dynamic upscaling for a 30fps target yields similar results. The game is simply too demanding for the Steam Deck in its current state. There were also instances of the game not exiting cleanly.

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

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth, with only minor internet-related disconnections (likely due to pre-release server instability).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5, performance mode provides a mostly smooth experience, though dynamic resolution/upscaling is noticeable in intense combat. Load times are excellent, and PS5 Activity Cards enhance convenience. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-save functionality between Steam and PS5 works well, though a two-day cooldown period exists between syncing to different platforms.

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

This question requires further testing with the full launch's online population. Eternal War (PvP) mode remains untested.

Desired Future Features

Future updates should prioritize improved Steam Deck performance and HDR support. Haptic feedback 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. However, I don't recommend playing it on Steam Deck currently. The PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will be provided after further multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

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