'Helldivers 2' blasts off as PlayStation's biggest Steam launch yet

Image: Arrowhead Game Studios/PlayStation PC LLC

PlayStation's PC push seems to be hitting its mark, with the newly released cooperative shooter Helldivers 2 achieving the company's best Steam launch to date. A day after its release, Helldivers 2 boasted a peak concurrent player count of 81,840, eclipsing the previous record holder, God of War (2018), with its 73,529 peak players. This milestone signifies another step in PlayStation's strategy to extend its reach beyond the PS5 by bringing beloved titles to PC audiences.

While previous PC releases like Returnal and The Last of Us Part 1 saw success, Helldivers 2 marks a first: simultaneous launch on both PS5 and PC. This simultaneous release likely contributed to the high player count, as God of War had already enjoyed years on PlayStation 4 before reaching PC. However, it's worth noting that Helldivers 2 falls into a more niche genre compared to PlayStation's previous PC offerings.

Despite its strong launch, Helldivers 2 currently holds a mixed rating on Steam based on over 10,800 reviews. Initial launch issues included server and matchmaking problems along with issues with its anti-cheat software, causing launch difficulties for some players. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios has actively addressed these concerns with a released patch, and overall player experience seems to be improving.

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