Arrowhead's alien-shooter Helldivers 2 has become PlayStation's fastest-selling game ever. However, despite its initial success, the game has seen a significant drop in its PC player base on Steam. Five months after its release, Helldivers 2 has lost around 90% of its concurrent players on the platform.
(Photo : Arrowhead Game Studios / Screenshot taken from Steam.)
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Steep Decline in Player Numbers
At its peak, Helldivers 2 had 458,709 concurrent players on Steam. By the end of May, this number had dropped 64% to 166,305, according to SteamDB. Today, the 30-day average of concurrent players has further decreased to 41,860, as reported by Forbes. This represents a 90% decline from its all-time peak.
Challenges and Missteps
Several issues have contributed to the game's decline on Steam. One major factor is the negative reviews from players, primarily due to problems related to the PlayStation Network (PSN). Earlier this year, a PSN debacle led to the game being pulled from sale in 177 countries where PSN was not available. This decision generated widespread disappointment and negative feedback from the community.
Recently, an unannounced Helldivers 2 update leaked online through a Sony email. The email introduced the Airburst Rocket Launcher, a new weapon unlocked after a successful in-game operation. However, the image in the email showed a weapon not yet available in the game, leading to further confusion and frustration among players.
Despite these challenges, Helldivers 2 continues to have a strong player base on PlayStation 5, thanks to its initial success. The game now faces the challenge of retaining its remaining players and addressing the issues that have led to its decline on Steam.
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