Space Marine 2 on PS5 Pro: a much-needed image quality and performance upgrade

PlayStation 5 Pro Support has finally arrived for Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2, resulting in one of the most worthwhile updates we’ve ever seen on Sony’s mid-gen console. Starting with patch 1.5, PS5 Pro improves performance in 60fps mode and fixes the (sometimes) blurry image quality in the same mode. Speed ​​and Quality modes use PSSR instead of the original FSR2 method to improve image quality, and also increase the internal resolution in each mode to achieve 4K output resolution. In short: in Quality mode we now get an input resolution range of 1080p to 4K, while in Speed ​​mode this range is adjusted to 1080p-1440p.

The big question then is whether the transition to PSSR is sufficient to make a noticeable difference in the clarity of each mode. Especially on the move, what’s the advantage over the base PS5? And specifically looking at the 60fps mode, will the PS5 Pro finally be able to deliver the smooth gaming experience that wasn’t available on the base PS5?

Before we get started, a few words about the state of gaming on the base PS5 today. The thing is, the 30fps quality mode always worked quite well on base hardware, but the speed mode struggled with frame rate fluctuations between 35-60fps. Comparing patch 1.2 – the version we tested in the original review three months ago – with today’s patch 1.5 the difference is decent. The good news is that we’re seeing 5-10fps improvements on the base PS5, and sometimes even higher. Due to the choppy nature of combat, keeping gameplay in sync across each is a real challenge, but the comparison still paints a clear picture overall: Since launch, Saber Interactive has worked hard to squeeze the PS5’s performance juices out.

The end result is that those with a VRR-enabled display will benefit from the new patch, although frame rates may still dip below the 48fps threshold for VRR on PS5 from time to time. Additionally, there are no real improvements in the obvious CPU-related areas of the game. The fight with the Ripper that swims in at the end of the second mission, for example, still hovers around 40 frames per second, and at times even drops to 30. Finally, despite overall performance improvements elsewhere, the base PS5 does not match the performance level of the Xbox Series X in speed mode, which we also retested in patch 1.5. In the first cutscene, the PS5 lags by up to 10 frames per second, although in the gameplay itself this gap narrows significantly. The Series X is still the best console when it comes to achieving 60fps.

So, going into testing the PS5 Pro, 60fps is the obvious starting point to get from the new hardware and the PSSR. The use of PSSR in Space Marine 2 is a success on the same level as Final Fantasy 7: Rebirthmaking this 60fps mode look much cleaner and sharper. As for the raw resolution numbers, it’s upscaled from 720p to 1080p with FSR2 on the base PS5 to 1080p-1440p restored to 4K with PSSR. While the basic visual tweaks remain the same, the higher resolution and machine learning upscaling significantly improve motion images.

Even in static shots, where stacking frames help both sides resolve the 4K image, the PS5 Pro gets a sharper image. The base PS5 holds up reasonably well when standing still, but the PS5 Pro still manages to capture distant plant details more accurately. The Pro’s bigger advantage, however, is in actual movement: PSSR’s handling of the dense jungle in the first mission is truly outstanding, replacing the often soft, blurry resolution of the FSR2 with sharper contours of every piece of scenery. The PS5 Pro’s ability to generate more pixels – a minimum of 1080p compared to the minimum 720p resolution on the base console – and scale it more intelligently allows for a huge improvement. From the grass, dirt and mulch on the floor to the detail of the reflections and metal grilles of the battle barge, all elements benefit from the transition to PSSR.

However, this is not ideal. The downside is that the image is overly sharp in places, especially foliage, as well as reflected elements in puddles. Elements with a lot of sub-pixel movement, such as swaying blades of grass, sometimes still create noise – anti-aliasing. Likewise, you’ll still notice shimmer on hard, high-contrast surfaces. There’s a trade-off, but overall it’s still a positive for the PS5 Pro in this mode.

Looking at actual speed mode performance, the PS5 Pro pushes the readings even closer to the target 60fps. This is by no means an absolute hit on that maximum number, especially when fighting multiple Tyranids, but in many ways it is an improvement over the PS5 base value. Comparing the two vehicles, both updated to patch 1.5, we see an increase of up to 5 frames per second during the introductory cutscene when we land on the battlefield. From there, the delta widens even further, showing a 10fps advantage over the PS5 Pro in combat. Sometimes it is even higher, although precise gameplay synchronization becomes increasingly difficult. Alas, it’s also hard to ignore the prolonged drops on the Pro: we still see spikes to 45fps just as enemies emerge from their pods on the opening jungle planet. Additionally, despite the improvements, we’re still typically running in the 50-60 FPS range during standard situations involving crowds of enemies. In short, all of this allows the PS5 Pro to run at 60fps more often than the base PS5, and ensures that frame rates stay within the 48-60 VRR window more often – but it’s not a lock.

There is one more caveat worth mentioning. It’s an exceptional moment, but controlling the infamous set of ripper swarms in the second mission on PS5 Pro is still a challenge. Unfortunately, Space Marine 2 places demands on the PS5 Pro that can’t be solved by either increasing GPU power by 45 percent or offering PSSR as an upscaler. Faced with a huge swarm of enemies that look like rats in A Plague Tale: Requiem – PS5 Pro provides only a small performance boost over the base PS5. Frame rates range from 40-60fps, which is an improvement over the sub-40 dips we had before, but it’s not good enough. This is far from the optimal 60fps and perhaps highlights the limitations of each console’s similar CPU profiles.

Comparing frame rates with the Series X also shows mixed results. Despite every console being updated to patch 1.5, the Series X still has a 5fps advantage over the PS5 Pro during the opening cutscene, although the result tends to favor the PS5 Pro as we enter the battlefield like that in the same way. Overall, Speed ​​mode clearly benefits from Sony’s new hardware, being smoother in overall frame rate and with sharper images when loading, but it still has a few issues that have yet to be ironed out.

When switching to 30fps quality mode, the increase in image quality on PS5 Pro is less significant, but is still noticeable in side-by-side shots. To be fair, the FSR2 upscale on the base PS5 already produces crisp, clear images here when rendering at a dynamic range of 1080p to 1440p, which provides plenty of pixel data to work with. In contrast, the PS5 Pro’s move to 1080p to 4K dynamic range with PSSR is an excellent but less significant upgrade.

If you look at the frame rate in quality mode, everything is as usual on the Pro hardware. We get a locked 30fps regardless of the situation, just like with the base PS5. Impressively, this includes the demanding ripper swarm segment, which has enough of a performance hit – with a minimum of 40fps in speed mode – to remain stable with the cap set at 30fps. Overall, offering a 30fps quality option makes sense on the PS5 Pro for two reasons. Firstly, it gives us a waterproof 30fps lock, just like the base PS5 console, meaning those frustrated by framerate drops in Speed ​​mode have a fallback option. And secondly, with a rendering budget of 33.3ms per frame, Quality mode allows for an average higher resolution frame within its higher dynamic range resolution. The result is greater temporal stability: less flicker on grassy elements and less flicker on metal battle barge meshes than in high-speed mode.

Overall, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 looks and runs better on PS5 Pro, and developer Saber Interactive’s use of PSSR pays off in a better-looking game. In practice, it’s the image quality improvements in the 60fps mode that stand out most to the cleaner resolution and higher frame rates, even if the locked 60fps is still off the table. The benefit will be felt most keenly by owners of VRR displays, who now have more frames to work with on average, although frame rate drops to 40fps are still an issue. In theory, a 40fps cap option would be ideal for Pro owners running on 120Hz displays, given that the game is capable of running above that limit. Instead, patch 1.5 is still a major upgrade for 60Hz displays, and even for base PS5 owners it’s good to see Saber continuing to optimize performance over the launch build.