Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review (in Progress) – GOTY Contender, but Play It Elsewhere for Now

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, leading me to explore other titles in the franchise, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader, before finally experiencing the original Space Marine. This hands-on review covers approximately 22 hours of gameplay across Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online multiplayer testing.

This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation requires extensive cross-platform multiplayer testing, and official Steam Deck support is slated for release by year's end. My testing utilized Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 shines as a visceral third-person action shooter. The tutorial effectively introduces combat and movement mechanics, leading to the Battle Barge hub where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed. The core gameplay is exceptional; weapons feel impactful, and melee combat is particularly satisfying. While ranged combat is viable, the brutal melee executions are a highlight. The campaign is enjoyable solo or in co-op, though defense missions are less engaging.

Playing with a friend across continents, the game felt like a modern, high-budget take on classic Xbox 360 co-op shooters, evoking the addictive nature of titles like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I hope future development includes a remastered campaign for the original Space Marine.

My Warhammer 40,000 experience stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this limited background, Space Marine 2 offers a refreshing and highly enjoyable co-op experience. While it's premature to declare it my favorite Warhammer title, the addictive nature of Operations mode, class variety, and mission progression keep me coming back.

Early co-op impressions are overwhelmingly positive, though further testing with random players post-launch is needed for a complete assessment. The cross-platform online functionality worked flawlessly during my testing.

Visually, the game is stunning on PS5 (4K mode on a 1440p monitor) and impressive on Steam Deck. Environments are detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. Character voice acting and customization options further enhance the presentation.

The included photo mode, while functional on Steam Deck (with some caveats regarding lower resolutions and FSR 2), truly excels on PS5.

Audio-wise, while the music is good, it doesn't stand out as memorable outside the game. However, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical settings. Epic Online Services integration is present but doesn't require account linking. Users can adjust display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Quality, Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, and FPS limits, along with numerous individual quality settings. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned for later. 16:10 support is absent currently.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts were absent on Steam Deck with Steam Input enabled, but disabling it resolved the issue. Adaptive trigger support is present, and button remapping is available. The DualSense controller, used wirelessly, displays PlayStation button prompts and supports adaptive triggers.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips below. Dynamic upscaling for a 30fps target yields similar results. The game occasionally fails to exit cleanly.

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

Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck, with successful co-op sessions experienced. Further testing with random players is pending.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

Performance mode on PS5 delivers a mostly smooth experience, though dynamic resolution/upscaling is noticeable in intense combat. 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-save functionality between Steam and PS5 is operational, with a two-day cooldown period between syncs.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing with the full online launch.

Desired Future Updates and Patches

Post-launch support should include improved Steam Deck performance, HDR support, and haptic feedback.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While a full review awaits complete multiplayer testing, the gameplay, visuals, and audio are exceptional. PS5 is recommended; Steam Deck performance needs improvement. A final score will follow post-launch testing and patching.

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