Helldivers 2: Double Player Count in New 'Escalation of Freedom' Update

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral

Helldivers 2 saw a dramatic rise in Steam players the day after its major update returned Divers to 'Super Earth'. Read on to learn more about the update and its effect on the game’s future.

Helldivers 2 Sees Player IncreaseEscalation of Freedom Update Doubled Its Player Base

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral

Just one day after the Escalation of Freedom update, Helldivers 2 has doubled its concurrent player count, surging from a steady average of 30,000 to a 24-hour peak of 62,819.

The reasons for the players’ return to Helldivers 2 are evident. The Escalation of Freedom update has comprehensively overhauled the game with new foes like the Impaler and Rocket Tank, a daunting Super Helldive difficulty, and larger, more demanding outposts offering substantial rewards. To top it off, players can enjoy new missions, objectives, anti-cheat measures, and quality-of-life enhancements.

Furthermore, with the new Warbond, the game’s battle pass, launching this Thursday, August 8, there’s ample content to keep players engaged. It’s no surprise this update has sparked such a significant surge in popularity.

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral

Despite the influx of players, Helldivers 2’s new update has faced a surge of negative feedback. Many players lament increased difficulty due to persistent weapon nerfs and enemy enhancements, asserting it diminishes the game's enjoyment. Additionally, game-breaking glitches and crashes have been reported.

While the game currently holds a "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam, this isn’t the first time it has encountered negative criticism.

Why Did Its Player Count Decline?

Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom Update Doubles Player Count After Downward Spiral

Excluding PS5 players, Helldivers 2 has maintained a robust Steam community since July, averaging approximately 30,000 concurrent players daily. This is already a remarkable figure by any standard, as most live-service games rarely surpass a thousand concurrent players. Yet, it represents a substantial decline from the game’s peak popularity in its initial months.

At its peak, Helldivers 2 boasted hundreds of thousands of concurrent Steam players, reaching a high of 458,709. This popularity suffered a sharp decrease when Sony required linking Steam accounts to PlayStation Network in May, excluding players from 177 countries lacking PSN access.

Despite Sony’s subsequent rescission, these regions remain barred from Helldivers 2. Johan Pilestedt, Arrowhead Game Studios’ CEO, has affirmed ongoing attempts to reinstate access. However, three months later, the problem continues.

Check out the article below to learn more about Pilestedt’s comments on the matter and the player reaction following Helldivers 2’s removal from numerous countries.