Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Deep Dive Review (Steam Deck & PS5)
For years, many Warhammer fans eagerly anticipated a sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. My own journey began with Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore the broader 40k universe and games like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. This eventually led to my recent playthrough of Space Marine 2, across both Steam Deck and PS5.
Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Space Marine 2, leveraging cross-progression and online play. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation requires testing cross-platform multiplayer and public server stability; and official Steam Deck support is promised by year's end.
Space Marine 2's impressive visuals and gameplay on Steam Deck, combined with cross-progression, sparked my curiosity regarding its handheld performance. The results are a mixed bag, detailed below. Note that 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 thrilling third-person action shooter – brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces core combat and movement mechanics, before launching you into the main hub: the Battle Barge. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize your appearance, and more.
The core gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weapons feel perfectly balanced. While ranged combat is viable, I personally favored the visceral thrill of melee combat. The execution animations are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes remains consistently engaging. The solo campaign is excellent, and co-op enhances the fun, although I found defense missions less enjoyable.
Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on classic Xbox 360 co-op shooters – a genre rarely seen today. It hooked me just as effectively as Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I sincerely hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.
My Warhammer 40,000 experience stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 offers a refreshing experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k title, the addictive nature of Operations mode with a friend, coupled with the class variety and steady progression, keeps me coming back for more.
While I haven't fully tested Space Marine 2's online functionality with random players, my co-op experience has been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the full online experience once cross-platform play launches.
Visually, on both PS5 (in 4K mode on my 1440p monitor) and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with superb texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by the exceptional voice acting and extensive customization options. The level of care evident in the character customization is remarkable.
A photo mode, accessible in single-player, allows adjustments to framing, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck, some effects appear less polished when using FSR 2 and lower resolutions. On PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.
The audio design is equally impressive. While the music, while good, isn't memorable enough for repeated listening outside the game, the voice acting and overall sound design are top-tier.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options
The PC port (tested on Steam Deck) offers extensive graphical options. Upon launch, Epic Online Services installs, but account linking isn't mandatory. Options include display settings, display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Quality, Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and numerous quality-related settings.
Four quality presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are included, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. 16:10 support is absent, hopefully addressed 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, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Keyboard and mouse remapping is also available. The DualSense controller, over Bluetooth, displays PlayStation button prompts and supports 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 suboptimal. At 1280x800 (16:9) with the low preset and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is impossible, with frequent dips into the 20s, even lower at times. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. This is far from ideal for this type of game. Improvements are needed to achieve consistent 30fps performance. The game also sometimes fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.
Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps, with the low preset, improves performance, but still experiences drops to the low 20s. The visual quality remains good on the Deck's screen, but the game currently demands more resources than the Steam Deck can comfortably provide.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions
Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck, despite potential anti-cheat concerns. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada proceeded smoothly. Occasional disconnections were internet-related, likely due to pre-release server instability. Further testing with random players and friends is needed upon full launch.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features
On PS5 (Performance mode), the game performs well, though a locked 60fps isn't guaranteed. Dynamic resolution scaling is apparent, causing noticeable blurriness during intense combat encounters. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards are supported. Gyro controls are currently absent.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression
Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 functioned well in my pre-release testing, although a two-day cooldown period existed between syncs. Further clarification is needed regarding this cooldown in the final release.
Solo Play Value
A definitive answer on solo play value requires further testing with the full launch's online population. Eternal War (PvP) mode remains untested.
Desired Future Updates
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 full online multiplayer testing is pending, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are exceptional across both platforms. I currently don't recommend it for Steam Deck due to performance issues, but it's highly recommended for PS5. 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
