Helldivers 2's "Escalation of Freedom" Update: A Resurgence After a Dip
Helldivers 2 saw a remarkable resurgence in players following its substantial "Escalation of Freedom" update. The update, which brought players back to "Super Earth," resulted in a doubling of concurrent Steam players within a single day.
The update's impact is undeniable: a jump from a consistent average of 30,000 concurrent players to a 24-hour peak of 62,819. This dramatic increase is attributed to the update's significant additions: new enemies (Impaler and Rocket Tank), a challenging "Super Helldive" difficulty level, expanded and more rewarding outposts, new missions and objectives, anti-griefing measures, and general quality-of-life improvements. The launch of the "Warbond" battle pass on August 8th further fuels this renewed interest.
However, the update isn't without its critics. Negative reviews cite increased difficulty stemming from weapon nerfs and enemy buffs, impacting the overall gameplay experience. Reports of game-breaking bugs and crashes also add to the negative feedback. While the game maintains a "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam, this isn't the first time it has faced player backlash.
The Previous Player Dip: A PSN Linking Issue
Before the update, Helldivers 2 enjoyed a healthy Steam community, averaging around 30,000 concurrent players daily – a significant achievement for a live-service game. This, however, represented a considerable drop from its initial peak of 458,709 concurrent players. This decline was largely attributed to Sony's mandate in May requiring Steam accounts to be linked to PlayStation Network (PSN). This decision locked out players from 177 countries without PSN access. Although Sony reversed the decision, the issue remains unresolved for these regions, impacting player numbers. Arrowhead Game Studios' CEO, Johan Pilestedt, has confirmed ongoing efforts to rectify the situation, but a solution remains elusive three months later.
The "Escalation of Freedom" update has undeniably revitalized Helldivers 2, but the lingering PSN linking issue continues to affect the game's potential reach.
