Helldivers 2 Update Boosts Player Count

Helldivers 2 has seen a remarkable resurgence on Steam following its substantial "Escalation of Freedom" update, bringing players back to the intense battles on 'Super Earth'. This article delves into the update's impact and the game's fluctuating player base.

Helldivers 2 Player Count Soars

Escalation of Freedom Update: A Doubled Player Base

The day after the "Escalation of Freedom" update launched, Helldivers 2 witnessed a dramatic doubling of its concurrent player count. The average of 30,000 players surged to a peak of 62,819 within 24 hours.

This resurgence is attributed to the update's comprehensive overhaul. New enemies (Impaler and Rocket Tank), a challenging "Super Helldive" difficulty, and expanded, more rewarding outposts have revitalized the gameplay experience. Further enhancements include new missions, objectives, anti-cheat measures, and quality-of-life improvements. The upcoming launch of the "Warbond" battle pass on August 8th adds another layer of engagement.

Despite this positive trend, the update hasn't been without its critics. Increased difficulty stemming from weapon nerfs and enemy buffs has drawn negative feedback, with some players citing a reduction in enjoyment. Reports of game-breaking bugs and crashes have also surfaced. While the game currently holds a "Mostly Positive" Steam rating, this isn't the first time it's faced negative player reaction.

The Previous Player Dip: A Closer Look

Prior to the update, Helldivers 2 maintained a robust Steam community, averaging 30,000 concurrent players daily—a significant number for a live-service game. However, this represented a considerable drop from its initial peak popularity.

At its height, Helldivers 2 boasted hundreds of thousands of concurrent Steam players, reaching a peak of 458,709. This decline was largely attributed to Sony's May mandate requiring Steam account linking to PlayStation Network, effectively locking out players in 177 countries without PSN access.

Although Sony reversed this decision, the access issue persists for these regions. Arrowhead Game Studios' CEO, Johan Pilestedt, has confirmed ongoing efforts to resolve this, but three months later, the problem remains unresolved. Further details on Pilestedt's statements and the subsequent player backlash can be found in a related article.