Sony’s Helldivers 2 Breaks Records on Steam
Biggest Ever Game Launch on Steam for Sony
Helldivers 2, the cooperative action game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, has achieved a significant milestone. Despite receiving a ‘mixed’ reception from players, it has become Sony’s largest game launch on Steam to date.
Sony does not typically disclose player numbers for its PlayStation games, but Steam games are an exception. On its launch day, February 8, Helldivers 2 attracted an impressive peak concurrent player count of 81,840 on Steam. This surpasses the record previously held by God of War, which had 73,529 concurrent players when it debuted on PC two years ago. As a result, Helldivers 2 is now the most concurrently played game on Steam published by PlayStation, as confirmed by
SteamDB.
Successful Launch Despite Unconventional Strategy
Remarkably, Helldivers 2’s success on PC was achieved despite its uncommon release strategy of launching day-and-date with the PlayStation 5 version. Sony previously employed this strategy with IllFonic’s Predator: Hunting Grounds, releasing it simultaneously on PS4 and PC in April 2020. Additionally, Helldivers 2 currently holds the distinction of being the top-selling game by revenue on Steam, outperforming popular titles like Palworld and Call of Duty. Notably, Helldivers 2 is priced at $39.99, offering players a more affordable option.
Potential Shift in Sony’s Exclusivity Policy
The question of whether Sony will reconsider its policy regarding big first-party exclusive titles on PC remains unanswered. For instance, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, released recently, is exclusive to PlayStation and has not been announced for PC. Other upcoming titles like Shift Up’s Stellar Blade and Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin are also slated for release on PS5 only. However, Concord, an exciting PvP multiplayer first-person shooter developed by Firewalk Studios, will be available on both PS5 and PC.
Mixed User Reviews, but Efforts to Improve Performance
Despite its Steam success, Helldivers 2 has received mixed user reviews, with some players highlighting performance issues on PC. In response, Arrowhead released a patch on Steam addressing matchmaking and crash problems, which has significantly alleviated these concerns. Mikael Eriksson, the Game Director, expressed commitment to resolving outstanding issues and encouraged players to enjoy the game while the team continues fine-tuning the experience.
Contact Information
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