Created by Arrowhead Game Studios and released by PlayStation PC LLC, Helldivers 2 (HD2) has gained immense popularity at an astonishing rate, surpassing the expectations of both the developers and Sony. This third-person online co-op shooter has become a gaming phenomenon since its simultaneous launch on PlayStation and PC on February 8, 2024.
Prior to its release, there was minimal buzz surrounding this remarkable $40 game, and the marketing efforts were only moderately successful. However, once players delve into the gameplay and find their rhythm, the experience becomes increasingly captivating. Of course, this is contingent upon the functionality of the servers.
As of the time of writing, HD2 holds the third position on Steam’s list of most-played games in terms of current players. It trails behind Dota 2 in second place with 616,518 players and Counter-Strike 2 with 1,049,971 players. In terms of daily players, it ranks seventh.
The overall peak concurrent players data reveals that Helldivers 2 has reached 350,993 players, and this number continues to rise, particularly on Sundays. It has even surpassed the mighty Destiny 2, which had a peak of 316,750 players a year ago.
Photo: PlayStation
During the initial days following its release, HD2 outperformed Sony’s top first-party game on Steam, God of War, which reached a peak of 73,529 concurrent players. At that time, Helldivers 2 had approximately 156,000 players.
Within a few days, the all-time peak surpassed the 196,000 player mark. Subsequently, it achieved nearly 204,000 players, then surpassed that milestone to reach almost 259,000 players. It peaked again at 301,000 and 333,000 players. Since the latest update, the number has risen to 350,993, and it is expected to exceed 400,000 players by Monday morning. Remarkably, it has even surpassed the peak player count of Grand Theft Auto V, which occurred over nine years ago with 364,548 players.
It is important to note that these figures only account for Steam players. When combined with PlayStation 5 players, the total number could be at least twice as high. Let us not forget that this game supports crossplay.
This remarkable achievement is a testament to the developers and publisher, although the servers are struggling to accommodate such a massive influx of players. Since its launch, the increasing number of logins has rendered the game inaccessible for many players. The latest update regarding the server status was provided on Discord, announcing a raise in the cap to 450,000 concurrent players.
Photo: PlayStation
Hopefully, this increase will prove sufficient, as HD2 shows no signs of slowing down. And rightfully so! It is the best cooperative game we have seen in years. It offers pure enjoyment, designed to be experienced with fellow players, fostering cooperation for the sake of liberty, democracy, and freedom… FOR SUPER EARTH!
Furthermore, it has even overshadowed all first-party Xbox games, including Starfield (330,723), Forza Horizon 5 (81,096), Forza Motorsport (4,703), Halo Infinite (272,586), Halo: The Master Chief Collection (161,024), Gears 5 (10,196), Sea of Thieves (66,906), Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition (73,928), Microsoft Flight Simulator (61,829), Grounded (32,012), and every other game published by Xbox.
In the world of gaming, Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft, shared his thoughts on the success of Helldivers 2 on the Game File website. He praised the game and acknowledged the team behind it for their efforts in bringing it to both PC and PlayStation. However, he questioned the impact of the game not being available on Xbox, wondering who it ultimately benefits in the industry.
This comment received criticism from individuals like @heytred on X/Twitter, who is a build engineer at PlayApex, Respawn Entertainment, and Halo. They pointed out that it’s hard to see how the industry benefits when a company like Microsoft acquires another company and then lays off a significant number of developers.
Arrowhead Game Studios, the developers of Helldivers 2, have a challenging journey ahead of them. Their focus now is to remain on track and consistently provide new content for the game. It’s crucial for them to avoid the fate that befell Halo Infinite’s multiplayer in 2021. Despite being free to play on Steam, the lack of regular updates and fresh content led to a decline in player interest, resulting in a significant drop in the player base.
At present, Halo has a relatively small player count, with only 6,251 individuals actively playing and a peak of nearly 9,000 players in the last 24 hours. This is not the outcome that Arrowhead and Sony envisioned for the release of Helldivers 2, which was meant to be a thrilling surprise for the gaming community.
Among the new content that Arrowhead plans to introduce, players can expect to receive all gameplay-related elements from the first Helldivers DLC completely free of charge, without any paywalls. This includes exciting additions like the EXO-44, EXO-48 ‘Obsidian,’ and EXO-51 ‘Lumberer’ exosuits, as well as vehicles such as the M5 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) and M5-32 HAV.
Furthermore, Helldivers 2 has an advantage in its ability to incorporate exclusive content from PlayStation franchises. This includes environments, player gear, and enemies from popular series like Resistance, Killzone, Motorstorm, Uncharted, Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Socom, and InFamous, among others. This unique feature adds to the game’s appeal and has the potential to create a meta-universe that promotes various PlayStation franchises, much like Sony’s own version of Fortnite.
If Arrowhead manages the game effectively, there is a possibility that Helldivers 2 could become a significant success for Sony. While it may not reach the same scale as Fortnite in terms of player numbers, it has the potential to create a vibrant and interconnected gaming experience that showcases and supports other PlayStation franchises.
According to the Source autoevolution.com