Helldivers 2 Update Aims to Revive Game

Helldivers 2 is experiencing consistent player loss and is in decline. Read on to learn why this is happening and what Arrowhead plans next.

Helldivers 2 Loses 90% of Players in 5 MonthsHelldivers 2's Popularity Wanes Among Steam Users

Helldivers 2, Arrowhead's acclaimed alien shooter, achieved a remarkable feat as Playstation's fastest-selling game ever upon release. Despite this initial success, the game experienced a sharp decline on Steam, with player counts falling to roughly 10% of its peak concurrent player count of 458,709.

Helldivers 2 encountered a major setback due to the PSN issue earlier this year, when Sony mandated PSN account registration for Steam purchases. This excluded players from 177 countries lacking PSN access. Affected players, including those who pre-ordered, were locked out, and even those who could register experienced negative consequences. Helldivers 2 consequently received overwhelmingly negative reviews and player numbers plummeted. The impact was so substantial that the game was removed from sale in regions without PSN services.

By late May, SteamDB showed a substantial 64% decrease to 166,305 players. Currently, the 30-day average has further decreased to approximately 41,860 concurrent players, representing a 90% drop from its peak.

It’s crucial to remember that these statistics only reflect the Steam player base; a significant portion of the player community for the Sony-published title remains active on PS5. Nevertheless, the Steam version is thought to have constituted a majority of its player base.

Helldivers 2 Freedom's Flame Warbond arrives August 8

Arrowhead, in an effort to address current issues and respond to the shrinking player base and attract new players, has recently announced the upcoming Freedom’s Flame Warbond update on August 8, 2024. This new update will introduce new weapons, armor, and missions including the highly anticipated Airburst Rocket Launcher and two new capes and cards called Purifying Eclipse, a heartfelt tribute to the Liberation of Choepessa IV in the First Galactic War, and The Breach, a reminder of the final mission of the 361st Freedom’s Flame. These new additions aim to maintain the game’s appeal and attract new players to revitalize the player base.

Helldivers 2 as a Live Service Game and Push for Content

Helldivers 2 exceeded all expectations during its launch by selling 12 million copies in just 2 weeks, outperforming God of War: Ragnarok. This is a significant accomplishment, but this isn't a sustainable path for Sony and Arrowhead's live service model. Indeed, as a live service game, Arrowhead aims for Helldivers 2 to be a lasting success. Since Helldivers 2 lacks a definitive conclusion, Arrowhead can continuously introduce new cosmetics, equipment, and content, thus creating a perpetual revenue stream.

Helldivers 2 remains a notable title in the co-op shooter genre despite some difficulties. The dwindling player base underscores the necessity of addressing player concerns promptly. The game's future will be fascinating to observe as it strives for more content and seeks to retain players' engagement.