Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Hands-On: A GOTY Candidate, But Hold Off for Now

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 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 sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. Now, having extensively played the sequel across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my impressions.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online multiplayer testing. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a comprehensive assessment requires thorough cross-platform multiplayer evaluation, and Focus and Saber are actively developing official Steam Deck support, targeted for year-end release.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's cross-progression and impressive Steam Deck visuals fueled my curiosity about its handheld performance. This review covers gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 capabilities, 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's brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. A concise tutorial introduces combat and movement before you reach the Battle Barge hub, where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

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

Playing with a friend overseas, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters. It hooked 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 knowledge stems primarily from Total War Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 is a refreshing and enjoyable co-op experience. It's too early to declare it my favorite 40k game, but the Operations mode, class variety, and progression keep me hooked.

While full launch testing with random players is pending, my co-op experience has been superb. I eagerly await testing the online functionality with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, the game is a standout. The PS5's 4K mode (on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. Environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a vibrant and immersive world. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options.

A photo mode (singleplayer) allows adjustments to frames, expressions, characters, FOV, and more. On Steam Deck, some effects suffer with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, but the PS5 implementation is flawless.

The audio is equally impressive. While the music isn't memorable outside the game, it perfectly complements the gameplay. The voice acting and sound design, however, are top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical settings: display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (balanced, performance, ultra performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, fps limit, and individual quality settings for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more.

DLSS and FSR 2 are included, with FSR 3 planned for later. I anticipate significant Steam Deck benefits once this is implemented. 16:10 support would also be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The PC port supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display 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.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, the game pushes the handheld's limits. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the 20s. Lower resolutions also don't guarantee a smooth 30fps. I hope future optimizations improve performance. The game also sometimes fails to exit cleanly.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps, even with low settings, still results in frequent drops below 30fps. While visually acceptable, the game is currently too demanding for optimal Steam Deck performance.

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 occasional internet-related disconnections (likely due to pre-release server instability). Further testing with random players is needed upon full launch.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (performance mode), the game runs well, though a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved. Dynamic resolution seems to be in effect. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards enhance usability. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 worked well during testing, although a two-day cooldown period existed between syncs. Further clarification on this cooldown is needed.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War remains untested at this time.

Desired Future Features

Post-launch updates should prioritize Steam Deck performance improvements 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. While online multiplayer testing requires completion, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb across both platforms. I currently don't recommend it for Steam Deck due to performance issues, but the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will be provided after further multiplayer testing and patch releases.

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