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

For years, the anticipation for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been palpable. While I wasn't initially aware of the original, my journey through the Total War: Warhammer series and other 40k titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader piqued my interest. I even dabbled with the first Space Marine on my Steam Deck. The reveal of the sequel had me hooked, and I dove in headfirst.

Over the past eight days, I've logged roughly 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and thoroughly testing the online components. This review is a work in progress for two key reasons: a complete assessment requires comprehensive cross-platform multiplayer testing and evaluation of public servers; and Focus and Saber are actively developing official Steam Deck support, slated for release by year's end.

Given Space Marine 2's stunning visuals and gameplay on the Steam Deck, and the inclusion of cross-progression, I was eager to see how it performed. The news is mixed, and I'll detail both the good and the bad in this ongoing review, covering gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 features, and more. Note: screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 screenshots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing was conducted on Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that’s brutal, beautiful, and undeniably fun—even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement basics, leading you to your central hub: the Battle Barge. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize your appearance, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weapons feel perfectly balanced. While some might favor ranged combat, I found immense satisfaction in the visceral melee combat. The executions are consistently thrilling, and mowing down hordes of enemies before encountering tougher foes remains endlessly entertaining. The campaign is fantastic solo or with friends in co-op, though I confess I'm not a fan of defense missions—fortunately, they're not overly prevalent here.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, co-op shooter reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era—a style rarely seen today. It captivated me in the same way Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4 have, and I sincerely hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My Warhammer 40,000 experience primarily stems from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 feels remarkably fresh and ranks among my favorite co-op experiences in years. It's too early to declare it my favorite 40k game, but I'm compelled to pause this review and jump back into the action. The addictive nature of Operations mode, experimenting with different classes, and steadily progressing through missions and unlocks keeps me coming back for more.

While I haven't extensively played with random players yet, my co-op experiences have been superb. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality fully this week once the game launches with cross-progression and cross-platform online play.

Visually, judging from my PS5 and Steam Deck experiences, Space Marine 2 is a stunning game. The 4K mode on PS5 (played on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies on screen, coupled with impressive texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. The main character's voice acting, along with the extensive gear and customization options, further enhances the immersion. The customization options are particularly well-designed, allowing for significant creative expression.

A photo mode, accessible in single-player, allows for adjustments to frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on the Steam Deck, using FSR 2 and lower resolutions can impact the quality of some frames and effects. On PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.

The music, while good, hasn't produced any standout tracks that I'd listen to outside the game. However, the voice acting and overall sound design are top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

How does the PC port fare? My experience is limited to the Steam Deck, but I can still discuss its features. Upon launching, Space Marine 2 installs Epic Online Services, though linking an Epic account isn't mandatory (I have one but didn't bother linking it).

Graphics options include adjustments for display mode (windowed, borderless, fullscreen), resolution (800x600 and above), render resolution (native, dynamic to hit target FPS), quality presets (balanced, performance, ultra performance), resolution upscaling (TAA or FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit (30, 60, 90, 120, unlimited), and various quality-related settings.

Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned for post-launch. I anticipate significant benefits from FSR 3 on the Steam Deck. I also hope for future 16:10 support, as the game currently only supports 16:9.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game offers keyboard and mouse controls alongside full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display on my Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. An adaptive trigger option prompted me to disable Steam Input. This menu also allows remapping keyboard and mouse controls. My DualSense controller (over Bluetooth) displays PlayStation button prompts and even supports adaptive triggers wirelessly—a less common feature worth noting.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

I experienced some freezing during startup on default and experimental Proton, but Proton GE 9-9 worked flawlessly. Technically playable on the Steam Deck without configuration changes, the game pushes the handheld's limits.

At 1280x800 (16:9) with the low preset and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, it struggles to maintain a locked 30fps, frequently dipping into the mid-20s and lower during intense combat. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. For this type of game, this isn't acceptable. While I hope for future 30fps performance, it's currently unattainable based on my 10 hours of playtime.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with the low preset achieves 30fps at times, but drops to the low 20s regularly. While visually acceptable, the game clearly strains the Steam Deck. It also sometimes fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual force closure.

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

Online play on Steam Deck works flawlessly. Testing with a friend in Canada proved successful. The only issue encountered was an internet-related disconnection, likely due to pre-release server instability. Further testing with random players and friends post-launch is necessary.

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

Performance mode on PS5 is largely excellent, though a locked 60fps isn't guaranteed, and dynamic resolution/upscaling seems present, causing noticeable blurriness in some large battles. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card support streamlines access to different modes and saves. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 is functional (with a two-day cooldown period between syncs). I've contacted Focus to clarify if this cooldown will persist in the final build.

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

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

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Features I Want to See

Beyond Steam Deck performance improvements, I hope for HDR support to enhance the game's already impressive visuals. While DualSense integration is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition (it's not present at launch, but hopefully planned for later).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While multiplayer testing needs completion, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb. I don't recommend it on Steam Deck currently, but highly recommend it on PS5. A full review with a score will follow after further multiplayer testing and patch releases.

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