Helldivers 2 has found new life and is proving that it can stand tall in a crowded market. While the game faced a major drop in its player base earlier this year, recent updates have triggered a resurgence, especially following its September patch.
Despite competing with other popular titles, especially Space Marine 2, it has managed to retain and even regain a significant player base. Arrowhead Game Studios has done an excellent job of listening to community feedback. And with this renewed energy, the game is poised for even greater numbers.
Helldivers 2 Started Strong, Faltered And Has Made An Amazing Comeback
In the months following Helldivers 2’s launch, the game experienced a noticeable drop in its player base. Criticism about game direction, balance issues, and patch inconsistencies led to an exodus of players.
But Arrowhead isn’t the only one to blame here. Helldivers 2 did have a viral explosion into the gaming community, and past the viral period, it was inevitable that the player count would drop.
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Despite this, Arrowhead finally responded in September by listening to player feedback and implementing significant changes aimed at addressing these concerns, beginning with their now-famous 60-day patch plan.
Helldivers 2 surpasses 100K concurrent players today
Player count has been rising daily since the balance patch dropped
This is the highest player count in several months
See more: https://t.co/K2BIBQuDz5 pic.twitter.com/YJp4TFhVeb
— Hunter 🎮 (@NextGenPlayer) September 23, 2024
The updates have had a huge impact. According to SteamDB, Helldivers 2‘s player count almost tripled after the most recent patch, reaching a peak of almost 60,000 concurrent players on Steam. This number was achieved with few content additions and just balance changes and bug fixes.
Over 70 weapons were rebalanced, enemy behavior was fine-tuned, and the Helldivers’ armor received crucial updates to make it more impactful in battle. These changes have led to greater build diversity. Players can now experiment with new strategies while still feeling the challenge at higher difficulty levels.
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The influx of returning players wasn’t just driven by these updates. Arrowhead Studios has been transparent about the lessons learned from past mistakes, particularly regarding the infamous Escalation of Freedom update, which the community disliked.
The Future Is Looking Good For Arrowhead
Arrowhead recognized its mistakes, listened to player feedback, and made efforts to fix them. This approach has paid off, with players once again excited about the game. And with the upcoming introduction of new enemy factions like the Illuminate, the game is only looking to get better from here.
We are SOOOO back!!! Patch is a 9.9/10!
Looks Like GOTY Is Back On The Menu pic.twitter.com/DLeJ5AB8gq
— Helldivers Alerts (@HelldiversAlert) September 17, 2024
While Helldivers 2 has regained popularity, it’s worth noting that the game has yet to reach the heights of its initial launch. The game has yet to drop under 10,000 concurrent players since the updates and usually sits much higher than that with peaks of almost 50,000.
The true test will be whether the game can maintain this momentum in the long run, especially with major competitors like Space Marine 2. But for now, Helldivers 2’s resurgence is a victory for both the developers and the community.
Arrowhead’s decision to directly address player feedback, especially regarding difficulty and weapon balance has paid off. The introduction of the 60-day patch plan showed a clear commitment to making Helldivers 2 the best version of itself.
What do you think lies in the future for Helldivers 2? Let us know in the comments!
