Whether Sony admits it or not, it scapegoated Jim Ryan as the backlash regarding its still-upcoming live service venture went from bad to worse. But as Sony starts to roll out the games that are part of its controversial initiative, it appears that Ryan might have been onto something.
Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Game Studios’ first game in nearly a decade and a follow-up to its criminally underrated 2015 title, is proving to be quite popular.
As a matter of fact, Helldivers 2is so popular that its servers can no longer handle the load.
After launching on Steam and PlayStation 5 on February 8, Helldivers 2 quickly amassed a massive player base, exceeding early projections and even becoming Sony’s biggest Steam launch ever. This surge, however, overwhelmed the servers, leading to login issues, progression problems, and reward tracking difficulties.
Recognizing the frustration, Arrowhead swiftly implemented server capacity increases, going from 250,000 to 360,000 concurrent players. Despite the boost, the surge in players meant they reached capacity in mere minutes. This resulted in login difficulties and other issues like the failure to accurately track progression – a critical aspect of gameplay given the game’s online-only nature and progression mechanics.
In response to these challenges, Johan Pilestedt, the head of Arrowhead, apologized to the Helldivers 2 community and outlined the steps being taken to resolve these issues. Despite efforts to scale server capacity, demand quickly outstripped supply, with player counts reaching the new maximum within minutes of the server capacity increase.
While the developer acknowledges the ongoing challenges, they remain committed to the game’s stability and ensuring a smooth gameplay experience for everyone.
Despite the still-ongoing server woes, Helldivers 2 has received mostly positive reviews, with the players praising its gameplay and improvements over the first game. This strong start, coupled with the high player count, indicates a bright future for the title once the server issues are fully resolved.
If you’re facing difficulties joining or progressing in Helldivers 2, you’re not alone. Be patient, as Arrowhead is actively working on solutions. Rebooting your game occasionally can help in the meantime. Remember, the developer appreciates your understanding and assures everyone they’re doing their utmost to fix things.
Ultimately,Helldivers 2’s success is a good sign for Sony despite the initial doubts regarding its plans. While the cancelation of The Last of Us Online remains a bitter pill to swallow, other upcoming ventures can learn from the success of Helldivers 2.
And, while we’re on the topic, maybe Sony should tap its movie arm and explore a collaboration between Arrowhead’s Helldivers universe and its upcoming Starship Troopers reboot. The latter recently gained traction online due to the similarities between its humor and satirical nature with Helldivers.
