For years, the anticipation for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been palpable. While I wasn't initially aware of the first game, my journey through the Total War: Warhammer series and other 40k titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader led me to finally experience the original Space Marine. A brief foray on my Steam Deck piqued my interest, and the stunning reveal of the sequel left me eager to dive in.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and thoroughly testing the online modes. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a complete assessment requires comprehensive cross-platform multiplayer testing, and Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment are actively developing official Steam Deck support, targeting release by year's end.

Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression and the impressive visuals and gameplay on Steam Deck, I was keen to see how it performed on Valve's handheld. The results are a mixed bag, and I'll detail everything in this in-progress review, 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 screenshots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing was conducted on Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that masterfully blends brutality, stunning visuals, and exhilarating fun. This holds true even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces the core combat and movement mechanics before you reach the Battle Barge, your central hub for mission selection, game mode choices, cosmetic adjustments, and more.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly tuned. While some may favor ranged combat, I found myself captivated by the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes remains consistently engaging. The campaign is fantastic solo or with friends in co-op, though I confess I'm less fond of any defense-based missions—fortunately, these aren't overly prevalent here.

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 hooked me in the same way Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4 have, and I sincerely hope Saber and Focus can collaborate with SEGA to revitalize the original game's campaign with a modern update.

My Warhammer 40,000 experience primarily stems from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 feels refreshingly unique and stands out as one of my favorite co-op experiences in years. While it's too early to definitively declare it my favorite 40k game, I'm compelled to pause this review and get back to playing—the addictive Operations mode, class variety, and steady progression keep me hooked.

I hesitate to offer a definitive judgment before the full launch and experiencing online play with random players, but my co-op experience thus far has been superb. I eagerly anticipate a more thorough test of the online functionality this week, once cross-progression and cross-platform play are fully implemented.

Visually, judging from my PS5 and Steam Deck experiences, Space Marine 2 is a stunning achievement. On PS5 in 4K mode (played on a 1440p monitor), the visuals are breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies on screen, combined with excellent texturing and lighting, brings the world to life. This is complemented by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for considerable creative expression.

The single-player photo mode offers granular control over frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects don't render optimally. The PS5 photo mode, on the other hand, is exceptional.

The audio design is equally impressive. While the music, while good, isn't something I'd listen to extensively outside the game, the voice acting and overall sound design are top-tier. The music fits perfectly within the game's context.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

My Steam Deck experience allows me to comment on the PC port's features. Upon launching, Space Marine 2 installs Epic Online Services, but linking an Epic account isn't mandatory.

The graphics options are extensive, allowing adjustments to display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Quality, Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA or FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and various quality settings.

Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. The game includes DLSS and FSR 2 support at launch, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant benefits from this on Steam Deck upon release. I also hope for future 16:10 support, as the game currently only supports 16:9.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display correctly on Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. The control settings allow remapping keyboard and mouse bindings. Using a DualSense controller over Bluetooth displays PlayStation prompts and even supports adaptive triggers wirelessly—a less common feature worth noting.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

I experienced some freezing on launch with default Proton and Experimental, but Proton GE 9-9 ran flawlessly. While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is suboptimal.

At 1280x800 (16:9) with the low preset and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is impossible. Frequent dips into the mid-20s, and even lower, occur during intense combat. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below 30fps. For a game of this caliber, this isn't acceptable. I hope future optimization allows for stable 30fps performance, but currently, it's unattainable in my 10 hours of testing on the Steam Deck OLED.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with the low preset achieves frame rates in the 30s, but frequent drops to the low 20s persist. While visually acceptable on the Deck's screen, Space Marine 2 currently pushes the Steam Deck's limits. The game also occasionally fails to exit correctly, requiring manual closure.

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

I confirmed online multiplayer functionality on Steam Deck. Anti-cheat measures sometimes interfere with online play on Proton or Linux, but Space Marine 2 works flawlessly. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were successful. Internet-related disconnections occurred, but these are likely pre-release server issues. Further testing with random players and friends will follow the full launch.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features – DualSense, Activity Cards, and Performance Mode

Playing on PS5, performance mode feels mostly excellent, though a locked 60fps isn't guaranteed, and dynamic resolution/upscaling is evident, causing noticeable blurriness during intense battles. Despite this, I highly recommend Space Marine 2 on PS5 based on my experience, pending confirmation of cross-platform online functionality.

Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards support different modes and save file access. Gyro support is currently absent on PS5.

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

My pre-release experience allowed cross-save progression between Steam and PS5, with a two-day cooldown between syncs. I've contacted Focus to clarify if this cooldown will remain in the final build.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing with random players once the servers are fully populated. I will update this section after assessing matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes—the latter of which remains untested.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Features I Want to See in Updates and Patches

Beyond Steam Deck performance improvements, proper HDR support is my top priority. The game's visuals would benefit greatly from HDR. While the DualSense implementation is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition. The development team has confirmed haptics are not present at launch, suggesting future inclusion.

Warhammer 40,000: 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 exceptional across all platforms. I currently don't recommend it on Steam Deck, but the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will follow further multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

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