Helldivers: Freedom Update Multiplies Player Numbers

Helldivers 2's "Escalation of Freedom" Update Reignites Player Base

Helldivers 2 saw a dramatic resurgence in players on Steam following its major "Escalation of Freedom" update. The update, which brought players back to "Super Earth," resulted in a doubling of concurrent players within 24 hours, jumping from an average of 30,000 to a peak of 62,819.

The update's impact is undeniable. New enemies (Impaler and Rocket Tank), a challenging "Super Helldive" difficulty, larger outposts with enhanced rewards, new missions, objectives, anti-grief measures, and quality-of-life improvements have all contributed to the game's renewed appeal. The launch of the Warbond battle pass on August 8th further bolsters player engagement.

However, the update isn't without its detractors. Many players cite increased difficulty due to weapon nerfs and enemy buffs as a negative, alongside reported game-breaking bugs and crashes. Despite these issues, the game maintains a "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam.

The Recent Dip in Players

Before the update, Helldivers 2 enjoyed a stable Steam community averaging 30,000 concurrent players. This is remarkable for a live-service game, yet a significant drop from its initial peak of 458,709 concurrent players.

This decline stemmed from a controversial mandatory linking of Steam accounts to PlayStation Network in May, effectively locking out players in 177 countries without PSN access. While Sony reversed this decision, the issue remains unresolved for these regions, impacting the game's overall player count. Arrowhead Game Studios CEO, Johan Pilestedt, has confirmed ongoing efforts to restore access, but a solution remains elusive three months later.