Immerse in Space Marine 2's Glorious Chaos on Steam Deck (Preview)

A Deep Dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – A Steam Deck and PS5 Review in Progress

For years, many gamers 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. Intrigued, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck months ago. Now, having extensively played Space Marine 2 across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my evolving impressions.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Space Marine 2, leveraging cross-progression between my Steam Deck and PS5, and testing the online functionality. This review remains a work in progress for two key reasons: thorough evaluation requires comprehensive cross-platform multiplayer testing and assessment of public server stability. Furthermore, Focus and Saber Interactive have pledged 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 how it performed on Valve's handheld. The results are a mixed bag, which I'll detail below, covering gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note: Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 shots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing was conducted on Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a visceral third-person action shooter—brutal, stunning, and incredibly fun, even for Warhammer 40,000 newcomers. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement mechanics before depositing you at 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 weaponry feel perfectly tuned. While some may prefer ranged combat, I relished the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew old. The campaign is highly enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I'm less fond of defense missions—fortunately, their implementation here isn't overly intrusive.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters—a genre rarely seen at this scale today. It captivated me as much as Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I sincerely 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 provides a refreshing experience and ranks among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 title, I'm compelled to pause this review and return to the game—I'm hooked on Operations mode with a friend, experimenting with classes and unlocking content.

While I haven't played with random players yet, my co-op experience thus far is outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality fully once the game launches with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a masterpiece. The PS5's 4K mode (on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. While trailers hinted at its quality, the environments are stunning, and the game feels remarkably alive—not just from the massive enemy swarms but also the meticulous texture work and lighting. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.

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

The music, while not instantly memorable, effectively complements the game. The true audio stars are the voice acting and sound design—top-tier quality.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers a robust suite of options. Epic Online Services are integrated, but account linking isn't mandatory. Graphics settings include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution targeting, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limits, and numerous quality-related adjustments.

Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are included, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant Steam Deck benefits once fully supported. 16:10 support would also be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game features keyboard and mouse controls alongside full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive triggers are configurable, and remapping keyboard and mouse bindings is possible. My DualSense controller, connected wirelessly, displayed PlayStation prompts and even supported adaptive triggers—a less common feature worth noting.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While I experienced some initial freezing on default Proton, Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. The game is technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration, but it pushes the handheld's limits. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, it struggles to maintain a locked 30fps, frequently dipping below. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates remain suboptimal. I hope future optimization allows for consistent 30fps performance. The game also occasionally fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps, even with low settings, results in frequent dips below 20fps. While the visuals remain acceptable, Space Marine 2 currently overtaxes the Steam Deck.

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

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth and enjoyable. Minor internet-related disconnections occurred, but these are expected on pre-release servers. Further testing with random players is planned.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

On PS5 (Performance mode), the game performs well, though a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution appears 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-progression between Steam and PS5 functions well (with a two-day cooldown period).

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

This question requires further assessment post-launch, once servers are fully populated. Eternal War (PvP) mode remains untested.

Desired Future Features

Post-launch support is anticipated, with HDR support being a key desired addition. Haptic feedback would also enhance the DualSense experience.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While online multiplayer testing requires further time, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are exceptional. I currently don't recommend it for Steam Deck, but it's highly recommended on PS5. A final score will follow once multiplayer and patches are fully evaluated.

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