Helldivers 2 Launches Strong on Steam and PS5, Attracting a Growing Player Base

Arrowhead Game Studios’ highly anticipated cooperative action game Helldivers 2 has made a strong debut on both Steam and PlayStation 5 platforms. Released simultaneously with the PS5 version, the PC release has garnered significant attention among gamers. Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on PS5, and PlayStation PC LLC on Steam, the game has quickly climbed the ranks to become the 15th most-played game on Steam, currently attracting 53,189 concurrent players.

Helldivers 2 has also achieved notable success in terms of revenue, claiming the second top-selling spot on Steam. Despite being priced more affordably at $39.99, it has surpassed blockbuster titles like Palworld and even Call of Duty. While player numbers on PS5 remain undisclosed by Sony, it is expected that Helldivers 2 will continue to gain popularity across both platforms as the weekend approaches.

Interestingly, Helldivers 2’s launch deviates from Sony’s usual strategy of prioritizing console releases over PC. This simultaneous release is not unprecedented, as Sony previously published IllFonic’s Predator: Hunting Grounds on both PS4 and PC in April 2020. However, it remains to be seen if Sony will consider relaxing this policy for its highly anticipated first-party exclusives, such as Demon’s Souls and Project Eve, both of which are currently only announced for the PS5.

Meanwhile, the diversity in platform strategies among major players in the gaming industry is worth noting. While Sony maintains a console-first approach, Microsoft takes a more inclusive stance, releasing its games simultaneously on Xbox and Windows PC. In fact, there have been recent reports suggesting that Microsoft may even bring some of its first-party games to the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. More insights into Microsoft’s plans are expected to be shared soon, as the company gears up for upcoming announcements.

Wesley Yin-Poole, the UK News Editor for IGN, shared these details on Twitter. Connect with him at @wyp100. Should you wish to reach out to Wesley, you can contact him at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or via his confidential email at wyp100@proton.me.