Space Marine 2 Impresses on Steam Deck, but Hold Off for Now

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Deep Dive Review (Steam Deck & PS5)

Many have eagerly awaited Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 for years. My journey began with Total War: Warhammer, sparking an interest in the broader 40k universe, leading to playthroughs of Boltgun and Rogue Trader. A prior Steam Deck foray into the original Space Marine piqued my curiosity for the sequel. After its stunning 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, leveraging cross-progression and online play. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation requires testing cross-platform multiplayer and public servers; and Focus and Saber are committed to official Steam Deck support by year's end.

Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression and impressive visuals on Steam Deck, I was keen to see its handheld performance. The news is mixed, and this review covers gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 capabilities, and more. Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 shots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing utilized Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that's simultaneously brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement basics, leading to the Battle Barge hub. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize cosmetics, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional; controls and weaponry feel perfectly implemented. While some might favor ranged combat, I relished the visceral melee combat. Executions are consistently satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes remains engaging. The campaign is fantastic solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions less appealing.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters—a rarity these days. It captivated me much like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My Warhammer 40,000 experience stems primarily from Total War Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Space Marine 2, however, provides a refreshing experience and ranks among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite 40k title, this review will be updated after further playtime. I'm currently hooked on Operations mode with a friend, exploring classes and unlocks.

While full launch experiences with random players remain untested, my co-op experience has been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate broader online testing with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is breathtaking. The 4K mode on PS5 (played on a 1440p monitor) is stunning. Environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with excellent texture work and lighting, brings the world to life. This is enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative character expression.

A photo mode (available in single-player) offers adjustments for frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear less polished. The PS5 photo mode, conversely, is exceptional.

The audio is equally impressive. While the music, while good, isn't memorable outside the game, 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 installation is required, but Epic account linking isn't mandatory. Options include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (balanced, performance, ultra-performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, fps limit, and various quality-related settings.

DLSS and FSR 2 are supported, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate Steam Deck benefits from this once available. Full 16:10 support is also hoped for in a future update.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

Keyboard and mouse controls are available alongside full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts weren't displayed on Steam Deck by default; disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Remapping options for keyboard and mouse are also included. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation prompts and supported adaptive triggers wirelessly, a notable feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While some initial freezing occurred on default Proton and Experimental, Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. Space Marine 2 is technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration, but performance is suboptimal. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the 20s. Lower resolutions also experience frame rate drops. Reaching a consistent 30fps remains a goal. The game also sometimes fails to exit cleanly.

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

Online play on Steam Deck functions flawlessly. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth, barring some internet-related disconnections (expected on pre-release servers). Further testing with random players and friends is pending the full launch.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (Performance mode), the experience is largely positive, though a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling is apparent. Load times are quick, and PS5 Activity Card support is present. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 functions well, with a two-day cooldown period between platform syncs.

Solo Play Value

A definitive assessment of solo play value requires further testing with populated servers. Eternal War (PvP) mode remains untested.

Desired Future Updates

Post-launch support is anticipated, with HDR support being a key desired addition. Haptic feedback is also hoped for.

Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While full multiplayer testing is pending, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are top-notch. While not recommended on Steam Deck currently, the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will follow complete multiplayer testing and post-launch updates.

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