Summary
- Player count for Helldivers 2 rose by 50% after the launch of May's Heart of Democracy update.
- December 2024's Omens of Tyranny update drew over 150,000 active players.
- Heart of Democracy addressed many fan complaints, brought back players, and future updates are planned.
Helldivers 2's Heart of Democracy update has boosted the player count by more than 50% compared to early May. Arrowhead Game Studios' cooperative third-person shooter had a strong launch in February 2024, reaching over 400,000 concurrent players. However, shortly after release, Helldivers 2 started losing its fan base, with the average player count dropping to around 50,000.
The last time Helldivers 2 saw a surge in player count was in December 2024. The Omens of Tyranny update then increased the number of active players to over 150,000. Many credited that update's success to the developer addressing the fan base's complaints. Now, a similar success seems to be unfolding with the latest patch.
Helldivers 2's Masters of Ceremony Warbond is the Odd One Out
The niche theme and peculiar timing of Helldivers 2’s new Masters of Ceremony premium Warbond make it an oddity among other Warbonds.
According to SteamDB data, shortly after Helldivers 2' s Heart of Democracy update, the player count surpassed 160,000. The game only had more players during its launch months, when it averaged over 300,000. This marks a major win for developer Arrowhead Game Studios, which faced heavy criticism in recent months for things like unstable performance on PC and a few controversial balance patches. Before the update, some even speculated that the developer might abandon the game soon. However, Heart of Democracy proved those doubts wrong and brought many players back.
Helldivers 2's May Update Addresses Critical Issues
Fans have often criticized Helldivers 2's difficulty system, with some arguing that the game confuses "annoying" with "difficult." Critics feel that, at times, the game prioritizes overwhelming players with a constant flood of enemies, to the point where it can take the fun out of the experience. Fortunately, the Heart of Democracy update appears to address these issues. It includes several balance changes, improvements, and quality-of-life features aimed at enhancing the gameplay experience. Some of these changes are also speculated to make the game easier. However, the developer has assured fans it will monitor their impact on gameplay and release follow-up patches if any issues arise.
Additionally, the developer has offered a discount alongside the update's release. Players can currently buy Helldivers 2 at a 20% discount, lowering the price to around $32 on both PlayStation 5 and Steam. Steam's promotion ends on May 27, while PlayStation 5 players have until June 5 to take advantage of the discount.
Arrowhead Game Studios' recent success with Heart of Democracy also reinforces its long-term plans for Helldivers 2. The developer recently assured fans that it intends to support the game as long as the community remains active and continues purchasing Super Credits. And this latest update serves as a glimpse of what's to come, which should excite long-time fans. The developer is also encouraging players to share their feedback on the new update. A second balance pass is planned after 60 days, during which the team will address any issues that arise or are flagged by fans.
Helldivers 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- bitsquid
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
