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

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

For years, anticipation for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been building. While I wasn't initially aware of the original, my exploration of the Warhammer 40,000 universe through titles like Total War: Warhammer, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader piqued my interest. After a captivating reveal, I was eager to experience Space Marine 2.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with the game across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing the online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a comprehensive assessment requires thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing, and official Steam Deck support is slated for release later this year.

Initial Steam Deck Impressions: A Mixed Bag

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's stunning visuals and gameplay immediately impressed me on the Steam Deck. The good news is that cross-progression works seamlessly. The bad news? The game currently struggles to deliver a consistently smooth experience on Valve's handheld.

Gameplay Excellence: Brutal, Beautiful, and Fun

Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that excels in delivering visceral, brutal combat. The controls are responsive, and the weapons feel powerful. While ranged combat is an option, the melee system is a standout, with satisfying executions and intense close-quarters combat. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, although defense missions feel somewhat less engaging.

Co-op and Online Play: A Promising Future

Playing co-op with a friend overseas felt reminiscent of classic co-op shooters from the Xbox 360 era. The experience is highly addictive. While pre-release server stability needs further evaluation, early impressions are positive. I eagerly await the launch to fully test online multiplayer with random players.

Visuals and Audio: A Masterclass in Immersion

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a visual masterpiece, particularly in 4K on PS5. Environments are richly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies on screen is impressive. The lighting and texture work are exceptional, creating a truly immersive world. The voice acting is top-notch, and the sound design enhances the overall experience. While the music is good, it doesn't quite reach the same level of memorability as the other audio elements.

PC Port Features: Robust and Customizable

The PC port boasts extensive graphics options, allowing for customization of resolution, upscaling (TAA and FSR 2, with FSR 3 planned), visual quality presets, and more. It supports keyboard and mouse, as well as full controller support with PlayStation button prompts (Steam Input disabled). Surprisingly, adaptive triggers are supported wirelessly.

Steam Deck Performance: Optimization Needed

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is currently suboptimal. Even at low settings and reduced resolution with FSR 2.0, maintaining a stable 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips below that mark. Optimization is crucial to make the Steam Deck experience more enjoyable.

PS5 Performance: A Solid Console Experience

On PS5, performance mode delivers a mostly smooth experience, although some dynamic resolution adjustments are noticeable during intense battles. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards provide convenient access to different game modes. Unfortunately, gyro aiming is not currently supported.

Cross-Save Progression: A Seamless Transition

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 works well, although a two-day cooldown period exists between platform switches. The final build's behavior in this regard remains to be seen.

Future Enhancements: HDR and Haptic Feedback

Future updates could significantly enhance the game. HDR support would elevate the already stunning visuals, and haptic feedback would add further immersion.

Final Verdict: A Strong Contender, but with Caveats

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year, boasting exceptional gameplay, visuals, and audio. However, Steam Deck performance needs improvement before a full recommendation can be given. The PS5 version currently offers a more polished experience. This review will be updated following the full launch and further multiplayer testing.

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