Helldivers 2: Escalation of Freedom Update Boosts Player Count

Helldivers 2 has seen a remarkable resurgence on Steam, experiencing a dramatic player increase following its substantial "Escalation of Freedom" update. This update brought players back to the intense action on "Super Earth," leading to a significant boost in concurrent players.

Helldivers 2 Player Count Soars

Doubled Concurrent Players Post-Update

The Escalation of Freedom update has more than doubled Helldivers 2's concurrent player count within 24 hours. The average daily player count jumped from approximately 30,000 to a peak of 62,819.

This resurgence is attributed to the update's comprehensive overhaul. New formidable enemies (Impaler and Rocket Tank), a challenging Super Helldive difficulty mode, expanded and more rewarding outposts, fresh missions and objectives, anti-griefing measures, and quality-of-life improvements have all contributed to the game's renewed appeal. The upcoming launch of the Warbond battle pass on August 8th further enhances player engagement.

Despite this positive trend, the update hasn't been without criticism. Many players express concerns about increased difficulty stemming from weapon nerfs and enemy buffs, impacting the overall enjoyment. Reports of game-breaking bugs and crashes have also surfaced. While the game maintains a "Mostly Positive" Steam rating, this isn't the first instance of negative player feedback.

Previous Player Count Decline Explained

Prior to the update, Helldivers 2 enjoyed a stable Steam community, averaging around 30,000 concurrent players daily – a strong performance for a live-service title. However, this represented a significant decrease from its initial peak.

At its launch, Helldivers 2 attracted hundreds of thousands of concurrent players on Steam, reaching a high of 458,709. This popularity took a considerable hit in May when Sony mandated linking Steam accounts to PlayStation Network, effectively locking out players in 177 countries without PSN access.

Although Sony reversed this decision, access remains restricted in those regions. Arrowhead Game Studios CEO, Johan Pilestedt, has confirmed ongoing efforts to resolve this issue, but the problem persists three months later. Further details on Pilestedt's statements and the resulting player backlash can be found in related articles.