Space Marine 2 Impresses on Steam Deck, but Holds Back on Potential

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Brutal and Beautiful Action Shooter – Steam Deck and PS5 Review (In Progress)

For years, many fans eagerly awaited Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. My own journey began after playing Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other titles in the franchise, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck, sparking my anticipation for the sequel. After its impressive reveal, I was eager to experience Space Marine 2.

Over the past week, I’ve logged approximately 22 hours across my Steam Deck and PS5, utilizing cross-progression and testing the online functionality. This review is ongoing for two reasons: a complete assessment requires thorough testing of cross-platform multiplayer and 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 benefit of cross-progression, I was curious about its performance on Valve's handheld. The results are a mixed bag, detailed below. This review covers gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 features, and more. 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.

Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that’s simultaneously brutal, visually striking, and incredibly fun. This holds true even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. After a concise yet informative tutorial, players arrive at their central hub, the Battle Barge, to select missions, game modes, customize their appearance, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly tuned. While some may favor ranged combat, I personally loved the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes is endlessly entertaining. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found the defense missions less engaging.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget take on the co-op shooters 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. I hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My Warhammer 40,000 knowledge stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 has been a refreshing experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 game, the addictive Operations mode, class variety, and steady progression keep me coming back for more.

My co-op experience has been excellent so far, though further testing with random players is needed upon full launch to fully assess the online experience. I eagerly await testing the online functionality with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a stunning achievement. The 4K mode on PS5 (played on a 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies on screen, combined with exceptional texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.

The single-player photo mode allows for adjustments to frames, expressions, characters, FOV, and more. However, on the Steam Deck, some effects look suboptimal with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 photo mode, however, is exceptional.

The audio design is top-tier. While the music is good, it's the voice acting and sound design that truly stand out. The music effectively complements the gameplay but lacks the memorability to warrant listening outside the game.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphics options: display settings, display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (quality, balanced, performance, ultra performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and numerous 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 post-launch. I anticipate significant Steam Deck performance improvements with FSR 3. I also hope for future 16:10 support.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The PC port supports keyboard and mouse, alongside full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, and remapping is available. The DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displays PlayStation 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 currently suboptimal. At 1280x800 (16:9), low preset, and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, a locked 30fps is unattainable, with frequent dips into the low 20s. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. While dynamic upscaling helps, frame rate drops still occur. The game occasionally fails to exit correctly, requiring manual closure.

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

Online multiplayer works flawlessly on Steam Deck. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth, with only minor internet-related disconnections (likely due to pre-release servers).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (Performance Mode), the game runs well, though a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution seems to be in use. 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 progression between Steam and PS5 is functional, with a two-day cooldown period between syncs. The final build's behavior remains to be seen.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking and Eternal War mode.

Desired Future Features

Post-launch updates should prioritize improved Steam Deck performance and HDR support. Haptic feedback on PS5 would also be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While online multiplayer testing remains incomplete, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are top-notch. I don't recommend it for Steam Deck currently, but it's highly recommended on PS5. A full review with a score will follow further multiplayer testing and patching.

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