Helldivers 2 Update Boosts Player Base After Dip

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral Helldivers 2's recent "Escalation of Freedom" update has revitalized its player base, sending Steam concurrent players soaring. This significant boost follows a period of decline, prompting a closer look at the update's impact and the game's ongoing challenges.

Helldivers 2 Player Count Soars

A Doubled Player Base After the Update

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral The Escalation of Freedom update has more than doubled Helldivers 2's concurrent player count within 24 hours, jumping from a consistent average of 30,000 to a peak of 62,819.

This resurgence can be attributed to the update's extensive content: new enemies (Impaler and Rocket Tank), a challenging "Super Helldive" difficulty level, expanded and more rewarding outposts, new missions and objectives, anti-cheat improvements, and quality-of-life enhancements. The launch of the Warbond battle pass on August 8th further contributes to sustained player engagement.

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral Despite this positive trend, the update hasn't been without criticism. Negative reviews cite increased difficulty stemming from weapon nerfs and enemy buffs, impacting the overall gameplay experience. Reports of game-breaking bugs and crashes have also surfaced. While the game maintains a "Mostly Positive" Steam rating, this isn't the first time it's faced negative player feedback.

The Reason Behind the Initial Player Dip

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral Prior to the update, Helldivers 2 enjoyed a stable Steam community, averaging approximately 30,000 concurrent players daily (excluding PS5 players). This is notable for a live-service title, yet significantly lower than its initial peak.

The game's popularity plummeted after Sony mandated linking Steam accounts to PlayStation Network in May, effectively locking out players in 177 countries without PSN access. Although Sony reversed this decision, the access issue persists for these regions three months later, as confirmed by Arrowhead Game Studios CEO, Johan Pilestedt, who is working to resolve the situation. Further details on Pilestedt's statements and the subsequent player backlash can be found in a related article.