Millions have fought the good fight on PlayStation 5 and Steam and many continue to take up arms in the name of managed democracy. It’s safe to say that the unexpected success of Helldivers 2 has taken the gaming industry by storm. But as Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony remain silent about its numbers, the more curious troopers can’t help wonder just how many have joined the cause.
The last we heard was from Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt, who hinted it had already sold more than 5 million copies of the popular co-op shooter. However, this doesn’t narrow down the exact figure, which is a problem one analyst might have solved.
Doug Creutz from TD Cowen (via Bloomberg) claims Helldivers 2 has already soared to around eight million copies, making it clear that the title has outperformed all expectations.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is currently the best-selling game on PS5 with 10 million units sold. This is obviously higher Helldivers 2’s 8 million, but it’s only based on its sales on Steam alone. VGInsights, which uses third-party data sources for its database, even estimates that the actual number is closer to 9.2 million on PC. Since Arrow previously mentioned that there are just as many players on PS5 and Steam, we can assume around 9 million copies of Helldivers 2 have been sold on PS5 already.
Sony might not have released the official sales figures yet, but reports from around the world, including Europe, confirm that Helldivers 2 was the best-selling game on PS5 in February. It even maintained its sales momentum post-launch, growing by as much as 70% in its second week and sustaining fewer significant drops in the following weeks. It wouldn’t be outlandish to claim that Helldivers 2 has already outsold Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PS5, with total sales figures roughly around 15-20 million, putting it within striking range of Palworld‘s numbers.
Helldivers 2‘s performance on Steam, peaking at 458,709 players, and on PS5, would help explain the constant server issues the game faced for a while, prompting even the CEO to tell a “broke” fan to wait until things get settled before buying the game.
What makes Helldivers 2 stand out is its gameplay, accessibility, and, most important of all, its community engagement. The game’s creative direction, highlighted by having a guy like “Joel” pull the strings from behind the scenes, has shaped an online title that entertains fans while fostering a sense of unity and compassion among its players, as opposed to toxicity and rivalry. This approach has paid off dividends, with Helldivers 2 quickly becoming one of the biggest surprises of the year.
If nothing else, Helldivers 2‘s unprecedented popularity proves a dual-platform strategy is a recipe for success if executed well.
With its engaging gameplay loop that doesn’t make you feel like you have a second job when you get home and boot up your PC or PS5 and the backing of a strong, positive community, Helldivers 2‘s enduring appeal is guaranteed. Arrowhead’s active presence on social media platforms and ongoing introduction of new content also plays a crucial role in maintaining the interest of players and guaranteeing player loyalty – rare in a competitive market where new titles are constantly vying for attention.
It’s impossible to predict what Helldivers 2 could look like a year from now, but there’s a chance the troops will be just as enthusiastic in spreading liberty and freedom as ever, with some possibly enjoying the game on the PlayStation 5 Pro.
