Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 on Steam Deck - Promising but Play Elsewhere

As a fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, I've been eagerly awaiting the sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, especially after diving into the franchise through Total War: Warhammer and other titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. When the first game's sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, was revealed, my excitement soared, and I couldn't wait to experience it on my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging the cross-progression feature.

Over the past eight days, I've invested around 22 hours into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, splitting my time between my Steam Deck and PS5. This review is still in progress for two key reasons: I need to test the cross-platform multiplayer and public servers, and official Steam Deck support is on the way from Focus and Saber, expected by year's end.

Having seen the stunning visuals and smooth gameplay of the original on Steam Deck, I was eager to see how the sequel would perform. There's both good and bad news to share, which I'll delve into in this ongoing review, covering gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 features, and more. Note that screenshots with performance overlays or FPS displays are from my Steam Deck OLED, while 16:9 screenshots are from my PS5 playthrough. My testing has been conducted using Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that blends brutality, beauty, and fun, making it accessible even to newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game kicks off with a well-crafted tutorial that introduces you to combat and movement basics, leading you to the Battle Barge, your central hub for mission selection, game mode choices, and cosmetic adjustments.

The gameplay is exceptional, with controls and weapons feeling spot-on. While some may prefer ranged combat, I found the melee weapons and visceral close-quarters combat incredibly satisfying. The executions and the thrill of mowing through hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes kept me engaged throughout the campaign, whether playing solo or in co-op. Defense missions, though not my favorite, were implemented well enough not to detract from the experience.

Playing with a friend from another country, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget revival of the co-op shooters from the Xbox 360 era, reminiscent of games like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. It's a refreshing take on co-op gaming that I hope will inspire a modern facelift for the original game's campaign.

My familiarity with Warhammer 40,000 comes mainly from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Yet, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been a delightful addition to my gaming library, offering one of the best co-op experiences I've had in years. While it's too early to crown it as my favorite Warhammer 40,000 game, I'm thoroughly enjoying the Operations mode with a friend, exploring different classes and progressing through missions and unlocks.

The co-op experience in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been outstanding so far, and I'm eager to dive into the online multiplayer once the game fully launches with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a feast for the eyes, especially in 4K mode on PS5 when played on a 1440p monitor. The environments are beautifully crafted, with meticulous attention to detail in textures, lighting, and the sheer number of enemies in swarms. The game's direction, voice acting, and customization options further enhance the immersive experience, allowing players to express their creativity.

The photo mode in single-player is a nice touch, allowing for adjustments in frames, expressions, characters, and FOV. However, on Steam Deck, some effects may not look as good when using FSR 2 at lower resolutions. On PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.

On the audio front, while I had hoped for Bolt Thrower's Realm of Chaos, the voice acting and sound design in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 are top-notch. The music, while good within the game, hasn't yet stood out enough for me to want to listen to it outside of gameplay.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, while only tested on Steam Deck, offers a robust set of graphics options. Upon launching, the game installs Epic Online Services, but linking an Epic account is optional. The graphics settings allow for adjustments in display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets, resolution upscaling, dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and various quality-related settings.

The visual quality settings include four presets that tweak texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. The game supports DLSS and FSR 2 at launch, with FSR 3 planned for post-launch, which should benefit Steam Deck performance. I also hope for full 16:10 support in future updates.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 supports both keyboard and mouse and full controller functionality. Initially, I had issues with PlayStation button prompts on Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. The game also features adaptive trigger support, which worked wirelessly with my DualSense controller on PC, a feature not commonly found.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

Before discussing visuals and performance, I encountered some freezing issues on default Proton or Experimental, but switching to Proton GE 9-9 resolved this. While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, the game currently struggles to maintain a stable 30fps, even at 1280×800 resolution with the low preset and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance. Performance dips to the mid-20s during intense combat, and even lower resolutions don't help maintain 30fps. Dynamic upscaling aimed at 30fps also falls short, often dropping to the low 20s. The game's demanding nature makes it challenging for the Steam Deck at present, and it sometimes requires manual closure upon quitting.

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

Despite performance issues, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's online functionality on Steam Deck is solid. I tested co-op with a friend in Canada without issues, though I experienced some internet-related disconnections. I look forward to testing the game in a more public setting once it launches.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features – DualSense, Activity Cards, and Performance Mode

On PS5, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 feels great in performance mode, though it doesn't maintain a locked 60fps. There's noticeable dynamic resolution or upscaling during intense fights, but overall, it's highly recommended for PS5 players. The game features fast load times and PS5 Activity Card support, though gyro support is absent. I'll update this section if that changes.

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

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 works well, though there's a two-day cooldown before syncing back or to another platform. I've reached out to Focus to confirm if this will change at full launch.

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

It's too early to fully answer this question due to the limited server population pre-launch. I'll update this review once I've experienced the game with random players and tested the matchmaking in Operations and Eternal War modes.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Features I Want to See in Updates and Patches

With post-launch support on the horizon, I'm hoping for improved Steam Deck performance and proper HDR support to enhance the game's already stunning visuals. While the DualSense implementation is good, I'd love to see haptic feedback added, as mentioned in the blog post.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is shaping up to be a strong contender for game of the year. While I need more time to fully assess the online multiplayer with cross-play, the gameplay, visuals, and sound are all top-tier. I recommend playing on PS5 for now, as the Steam Deck performance isn't optimal. I'll provide a final score once I've had more time with the multiplayer and after some patches are released.

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