Helldivers 2, the cooperative third-person shooter that many players have enjoyed since its release, is now facing a critical moment in its life cycle as 90% of the player base has decreased since release.
The game has a loyal fan base, but it’s at a point where it needs to add more content and address some pressing issues to keep players engaged and attract new ones.
The Current State of Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 has been doing pretty well overall, and while the average play count is only about 10% of its peak, this is pretty normal for multiplayer and live-shooter games. The game still gets daily averages of more than 40,000 players on Steam, and probably similar numbers on PlayStation 5.
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The core gameplay loop remains fun and engaging for most players. However, fan sentiments suggest that it’s reaching a point where more content is needed to keep things fresh. Some players have been asking for the addition of new factions to spice things up. Adding new enemies and challenges could definitely bring back players who have drifted away due to a lack of new content or find the content stale or boring.
Performance-wise, Helldivers 2 has been pretty polished across different platforms, mostly. Although the game runs smoothly for some, others have reported issues like crashing out of matches. These performance issues can be frustrating and might drive players away if not addressed on time. Despite this, the game’s player numbers are still solid, so there’s no immediate concern of the game dying out.
Weapon balance issues have also been a topic of discussion among the community. Some players feel that the discourse around weapon balancing is overblown online. While balancing is crucial, it seems that the core gameplay is still enjoyable for most players.
What’s Needed to Keep Helldivers 2 Alive?
For Helldivers 2 to continue thriving, the developers need to focus on a few key areas. First and foremost, adding more content is essential. Whether it’s a new faction, new missions, or new weapons and stratagems, players need something fresh to keep them coming back. The addition of another faction could also be a game-changer.
tried to play Helldivers 2 again today…hadn't touched it in a few months…
game runs like shit now (didn't change anything on my PC, used to be able to play it just fine). Plus, first mission I went in, literally just kept dying.
It is now uninstalled…try again someday…— Nathan 🍤 (@Nathams42) June 17, 2024
Addressing performance issues is also crucial. The game needs to run smoothly across all platforms to ensure a good experience for everyone, especially when it comes to a game like this where performance is of utmost importance to ensure victories.
Balancing issues, while sometimes overblown, should still be monitored and addressed. Ensuring that all weapons and equipment are viable and fun to use will keep players engaged, especially those who play at higher difficulties.
Game's not dying, lol. Helldivers 2 is still the 28th most played on Steam by 24 hour peak player count, and it's just on a natural decline from being "THE HOT NEW THING" and settling into having still ~45k players daily which is still a lot, that puts it just above Warframe
— CosmicJackalop (@CosmicJackalop) June 13, 2024
Community feedback should be taken seriously by the developers. Listening to what players want and implementing their suggestions can help create a game that’s enjoyable for everyone. This is one crucial field where Arrowhead Game Studios has been extremely active in listening to player feedback and addressing it via social media platforms.
The game’s core gameplay loop remains fun, but it’s clear that more content is needed to keep things fresh. If the developers can deliver on these fronts, Helldivers 2 has the potential to live on and continue being a beloved game for its democracy-loving community.
What do you think of the current state of the game? Let us know in the comments.
