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
Within 24 hours of the Escalation of Freedom update's release, Helldivers 2 witnessed a dramatic doubling of its concurrent player count. The average of 30,000 players surged to a peak of 62,819.
This resurgence is directly attributable to the update's comprehensive overhaul. New enemies (Impaler and Rocket Tank), a challenging Super Helldive difficulty, expanded and more rewarding outposts, additional missions and objectives, anti-griefing measures, and quality-of-life improvements have revitalized the gameplay experience. The upcoming launch of the "Warbond" battle pass on August 8th further enhances player engagement.
Despite this positive surge, the update hasn't been without its critics. Numerous negative reviews cite increased difficulty stemming from weapon nerfs and enemy buffs, impacting the overall enjoyment. Reports of game-breaking bugs and crashes have also surfaced. While the game currently holds a "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam, this isn't the first time it has faced negative player feedback.
The Player Count Dip: A Closer Look
Prior to the update, Helldivers 2 maintained a robust Steam community, averaging 30,000 concurrent players daily (excluding PS5 players). This is impressive for a live-service title, yet significantly lower than its initial peak.
At its launch, Helldivers 2 attracted hundreds of thousands of concurrent players on Steam, reaching a high of 458,709. This popularity took a considerable hit in May when Sony mandated linking Steam accounts to PlayStation Network, effectively locking out players in 177 countries without PSN access. While Sony reversed this mandate, the access issue for these regions remains unresolved, three months later. Arrowhead Game Studios CEO, Johan Pilestedt, has confirmed ongoing efforts to rectify the situation. Further details on Pilestedt's statements and the subsequent player backlash can be found in a related article.
