"Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 on Steam Deck - A GOTY Contender, Better Played Elsewhere"

As a fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, my journey began with Total War: Warhammer, which led me to explore other titles within the franchise. Games like Boltgun and Rogue Trader quickly became favorites, and my curiosity about Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was piqued after playing it on Steam Deck. The anticipation for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was palpable, especially after its stunning reveal, and I was eager to dive in given my experience with various Warhammer 40,000 games on both PC and console.

Over the past eight days, I've invested around 22 hours into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing both my Steam Deck and PS5, taking advantage of cross-progression and testing the online features. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: firstly, I need to thoroughly test the cross-platform multiplayer and public servers before providing a final score. Secondly, Focus and Saber have announced plans for official Steam Deck support, expected by the end of the year.

Given the impressive performance of the original Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine on Steam Deck and the promise of cross-progression, I was keen to see how the sequel would fare on Valve's handheld. This review will cover 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 was 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 starts with a well-crafted tutorial that introduces 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 finely tuned. While some may prefer ranged combat, I found the melee weapons and visceral close-quarters combat particularly engaging. The executions and the thrill of mowing through hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never got old. The campaign is enjoyable both solo and in co-op, though I found defense missions less appealing, they 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, a genre that's become less common. It captured my attention much like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4, and I hope Saber and Focus can collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My familiarity with Warhammer 40,000 stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been a refreshing addition to my gaming library and one of the most enjoyable co-op experiences I've had in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 game, I'm eager to continue playing, especially in Operations mode with a friend, exploring different classes and progressing through missions and unlocks.

Although I haven't played with randoms yet, the co-op experience in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been outstanding. I'm looking forward to testing the online features more thoroughly once the game launches with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is stunning on both PS5 and Steam Deck. On PS5, the 4K mode on a 1440p monitor showcases the game's detailed environments and the meticulous work on textures, lighting, and the sheer number of enemies in swarms. The game's visual appeal is further enhanced by excellent voice acting, gear customization, and a photo mode that allows for detailed adjustments during single-player sessions. However, on Steam Deck, some visual effects may not look as good when using FSR 2 at lower resolutions.

On the audio front, while I had hoped for Bolt Thrower's Realm of Chaos, the game's sound design and voice acting are top-notch. The music complements the gameplay well, though it hasn't yet stood out enough for me to want to listen to it outside the game.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which I've tested on Steam Deck, includes a range of graphics options. Upon launching, the game installs Epic Online Services, though linking an Epic account is optional. The graphics settings allow for adjustments in display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets, resolution upscaling, dynamic resolution targeting, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, and frame rate limits. The visual quality settings cover texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. The game supports DLSS and FSR 2, with FSR 3 planned for post-launch, which should benefit Steam Deck performance. I hope for full 16:10 support in future updates, as the game currently runs in 16:9.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 offers robust control options, supporting 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 in other games.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, it currently struggles to maintain a stable 30fps, even at lower settings. Using the low preset with FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, the game frequently dips into the mid-20s during intense combat. Dynamic upscaling aimed at a 30fps target also results in frequent drops to the low 20s. The game's performance on Steam Deck is not ideal at this stage, and it sometimes fails to exit properly, requiring manual closure.

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

Despite performance issues, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's online functionality works well on Steam Deck. I tested co-op play with a friend in Canada without any issues related to Proton or Linux compatibility. The only hiccup was an internet-related disconnection, which I attribute to pre-release server conditions. 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 battles, which can make the image blurry. The game's fast load times and PS5 Activity Card support enhance the experience, 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 is currently functional, though with a two-day cooldown before syncing back or to another platform. I've reached out to Focus to confirm if this cooldown will remain in the final build.

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

It's too early to fully assess the solo play value of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 due to the limited server population pre-launch. I'll update this section 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 the promise of extensive post-launch support, I'm eager to see improvements in Steam Deck performance and the addition of proper HDR support, which would enhance the game's already impressive visuals. While the DualSense implementation is solid, I hope to see haptic feedback added in future updates, as mentioned in the game's 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 evaluate the online features with cross-play at launch, the gameplay, visuals, and sound are all top-notch. I recommend playing on PS5 for now, as the Steam Deck experience needs improvement. I'll provide a final score once I've had more time with the multiplayer and after some patches have been released.

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