When Helldivers 2 launched earlier this year, few could have predicted the meteoric rise of Arrowhead’s co-op shooter. In a market dominated by battle royales and competitive multiplayer titles, this quirky game about spreading managed democracy across the galaxy carved out its own unique niche.
From breaking PlayStation’s sales records to weathering controversial storms, the journey of Helldivers 2 has been anything but ordinary. And now, fresh off its victory at the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, the game has achieved yet another remarkable milestone that proves democracy truly does prevail.
A Record-Breaking Journey for Helldivers 2
In a year that saw Palworld dominate headlines, Helldivers 2 emerged as an unexpected contender for 2024’s biggest success story. The PlayStation-published title quickly became a phenomenon, reaching half a million concurrent players and setting new records for Sony’s PC releases.
Super Earth’s influence spread faster than anyone could have predicted. By May, Helldivers 2 had already moved over 12 million copies across PS5 and PC, becoming PlayStation’s fastest-selling published title of all time. Even more impressive? A whopping 60% of those sales came from Steam—proof that PC players were just as eager to spread managed democracy as their console counterparts.
And just yesterday, during their acceptance speech at the Golden Joystick Awards, Arrowhead’s development team shared some stunning news:
Winning ‘Best Multiplayer’ this year is a big thing for Arrowhead and all of Super Earth. It’s amazing—bringing 15 million players together—curing loneliness, bringing everyone together.
The achievement is particularly impressive considering the game’s tumultuous journey. While other titles might have faltered under similar circumstances, Helldivers 2‘s blend of over-the-top humor, satirical commentary, and challenging gameplay kept players coming back for more.
From Controversy to Comeback
However, not even Super Earth’s finest were immune to corporate oversight. In what is now seen as a precursor to the Concord disaster, Sony blindsided both players and Arrowhead with a mandate requiring PC players to link their PSN accounts—effectively locking out users in 177 countries overnight.
The backlash was swift and severe. Review bombs rained down like orbital strikes, and player counts plummeted faster than a poorly piloted exosuit. While Sony eventually backtracked for existing owners, the damage was done—to this day, players in affected regions still can’t purchase the game.
But that wasn’t the only challenge. Arrowhead themselves made some questionable decisions, implementing controversial nerfs that had many players wondering if the developers had been infected by automatons. After all, who needs “balance” in a cooperative game about spreading democracy through superior firepower?
Fortunately, Arrowhead proved more adaptable than a Terminid swarm. The studio acknowledged their missteps, introduced a comprehensive 60-day plan, and delivered massive across-the-board buffs and fixes that had fellow Helldivers cheering louder than a successful extraction.
While current player counts might not match the dizzying heights of launch day, Helldivers 2‘s latest milestone proves that managed democracy is alive and well. The game has found its groove, maintaining a healthy community of dedicated players who continue to fight for Super Earth’s values—namely, freedom, liberty, and the right to call in ridiculous amounts of orbital firepower!
What’s your take on Helldivers 2‘s journey? Were you one of the 15 million players who answered Super Earth’s call? Share your war stories in the comments below!
